Growth and production aspects of castor bean irrigated with saline water and nitrogen fertilization

The study was conducted to evaluate the growth and yield of castor bean cv. BRS Energia cultivated under irrigation with water of different salinity levels and fertilized with nitrogen doses in an experiment conducted in drainage lysimeters under field conditions at CCTA/UFCG. The statistical design was in a randomized block design, in 5 x 4 factorial arrangement with three replications. The treatments consisted of five levels of electrical conductivity of the water - ECw (0.3, 1.2, 2.1, 3.0 and 3.9 dS m(-1)) and four levels of N (70, 100, 130 and 160 mg N kg(-1)). Irrigation with saline water reduced the growth and yield of castor bean, the observed decrease was in plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, dry weight of leaves and roots, total and viable seed mass. Leaf area being the variable most affected. The application of increasing doses of N increased leaf area and dry weight of leaves. N rates up to 131 mg N kg(-1) promoted increase in accumulation of dry matter of roots. Castor bean cv. BRS Energia responded to the interaction between the factors only for the dry weight of stem.