Características agronômicas e qualidade de sementes de nabo forrageiro em função da densidade de semeadura e do espaçamento

Abstract

With the growing demand for renewable sources of energy, some oil species have been used for the production of biodiesel, including fodder radish. Besides its wide use as green manure, plant cover crops and animal feed, fodder radish seeds have high oil content and low viscosity, ideal characteristics for the production of biodiesel. Studies related to the technology of seed production for this specie are insufficient to define the best spatial arrangement of plants in the field that provide high yields associated with high-quality of seeds. Thus, was investigated in this study the spacing between plants and density ideal for the production of fodder radish seeds with high quality. The research was developed in the experiment field and laboratories UFLA, located at the Federal University of Lavras. In plants sown at row spacings of 20, 40, 60 and 80 cm and densities of 100, 300, 500 and 700 thousand seeds.ha-1 were evaluated the agronomic characteristics and physical, physiological and healthy qualities of newly-harvested seed and stored for 8 months refrigerated and at room temperature. The quality and productivity of fodder radish seeds is affected by the spatial arrangement of plants in the field. Spacing between rows above 60 cm or densities exceeding 500 thousand seeds.ha-1 negatively affect the final stand of plants, the productivity and quality of seeds. The negative effect of population exceeding 300 thousand seeds.ha-1 is mainly observed in seeds stored for 8 months, independent of conventional storage or refrigerated.