ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth and production of castor bean BRS-188 Paraguaçu, which has been recommended for the Northeast of Brazil in relation to organic fertilization, mulching and levels of water replacement. For this, an experiment was conducted under field conditions in the municipality of Catolé of Rocha-PB, using a randomized complete block design with factorial 2 x 2 x 4, consisting of two levels of replacement of water through irrigation due to the crop evapotranspiration - ETc 100 and 50%, with and without mulch (Cenchrus ciliares L) and four levels of bovine biofertilizer (0, 1.2, 2.4 and 3.6 L plant-1), applied to the soil, totaling 16 treatments with three replications and ten plants per treatment totaling 48 experimental plots. Plants irrigated with 50% of ETc, under mulch and bovine fertilizer at a dose of 3.6 L plant-1 reached leaf area and similar productions to plants grown in conventional system without mulch cover and irrigated with 100% ETc.
Key words:
Ricinus communis L.; cropping system; water management
