Castor bean, macroarthropods and soil fertility management

The effects of applying different fertility management measures on the development of castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) crops and the diversity of macroarthropods present in a typical eutrophic Yellow Latosol were investigated under field conditions. Three levels of cattle manure (0, 10 and 20 Mg ha-1), four levels of boron (0, 1, 2 and 4 kg ha-1) and two levels of mulch (presence and absence) were used as treatments in a field of the aforementioned oilseed crop. Throughout the field study, the vegetative, nutritional and productive behaviour of the castor bean plants was evaluated, and soil samples were collected to determine the diversity of macroarthropods in the different treatments. Organic fertilisation with cattle manure promoted significant increases in growth, seed production, oil content and nutritional status of the crop within the standards considered ideal. Fertilisation with boron proved to be a viable alternative when combined with organic fertilisation, given that the interaction between boron and cured cattle manure had a positive influence on all the variables analysed.