Open AccessGrowth of Alfavaca-Cravo in Response to Different Levels of Shade and Tiririca Density
Author(s) -
Patrícia Aparecida de Carvalho,
Maria Juliana A. de Oliveira,
Rafaela Aparecida A. de Almeida,
Silvério de Paiva Freitas,
Geraldo de Amaral Gravina
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of agricultural science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1916-9760
pISSN - 1916-9752
DOI - 10.5539/jas.v13n7p55
Subject(s) - cyperus rotundus , ocimum gratissimum , shading , context (archaeology) , weed , dry weight , horticulture , biology , crop , agronomy , botany , art , paleontology , visual arts
The species Ocimum gratissimum L. is widely utilized in food, cosmetics, and folk medicine, and is also an important source of essential oils. Understanding its behavior in response to environmental conditions is of paramount importance to improving crop management methods. In this context, the following study aimed to evaluate the effects of shade, and of competition with weeds (Cyperus rotundus L.), on the growth of Ocimum gratissimum L. The experimental design adopted was randomized blocks, in a 5 × 5 factorial scheme, with 5 levels of shading (48%, 75%, 77%, 83% and 90%) and 5 densities of Cyperus rotundus L. (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 per pot), with 4 repetitions. The variables analyzed were main stem height (MSH), diameter of stem base (DSB), number of leaves on the principal branch (NL), number of ramifications (NR), chlorophyll index of leaves (CIL), foliar area (FA), dry mass of the aerial part of the medicinal species (DMAPm), dry mass of the aerial part of the weed species (DMAPw) and essential oil content (EOC). The results demonstrate that the Ocimum gratissimum L. plants presented compatible tolerance responses to up to 70% shading, and that competition with Cyperus rotundus L. was detrimental in a density above 13 plants per pot in interaction with shading. The highest dry mass production and, consequently, the highest oil yield, were obtained from the 48% shading treatment.