Yield and oil content of castor oil plant (Ricinus communis L.) accessions grown with fertigation in a semiarid zone

Objective: To evaluate seed, dry matter, and oil content yield in five accessions of castor oil plant (Ricinus communis L.) in the Altiplano Potosino Zacatecano high plateau regionof Mexico, grown with a fertigation system.Design/Methodology/Approach: Castor was established under a fertigation system on agricultural land. Three levels of fertilization were tested. A completely random experimental design was used, with a 54 factorial arrangement (accessionsfertilization levels) and three repetitions, for a total of 60 experimental units.Results: The following accessions showed an outstandingly favorable response to fertilization: ZACS2C1 (Orito Zac) which had the greater seed yield (735 g) and oil content (%) (50.305.23); and SLPS11C1 which had the greater weight per 100 seeds (g) (56.772.35) and dry matter (1600 g). The best fertilization level for the above mentioned accessions was obtained with the low nutrient solution, while other accessions showed a variable and inverse response to the fertilization level.Limitations/Implications of the study: The study did not imply limitations.Results/Conclusions: The castor oil plant accession from El Orito showed a favorable response to fertilization levels and achieved a higher yield (number of seeds and their oil content), even in the absence of fertilization; consequently, it is a promising accession for agro-industrial crops use.