DESENVOLVIMENTO VEGETATIVO DA CULTURA DA BATATA EM FUNÇÃO DA AMONTOA E ESPAÇAMENTO DE PLANTAS

Abstract

The correct time to make the ridging and spacing of plants in the rows are factors that affect the development of potato culture and its effects need to be better known to assist in establishing best management alternatives. The study was conducted on the campus of Universidade Estadual do Centro Oeste (Unicentro) in Guarapuava, Paraná State, Brazil. The objective was to evaluate the effects of different times of ridging and spacing of plants on the rows in characteristics of the vegetative development of potato plants, Ágata, to estab- lish the best alternative for managing these factors. The design was completely randomized in a factorial 4 x 4, composed by four management of ridging (at planting, at 10 days after the emergency of plants (DAE), 20 DAE and without ridging) and four spacing of plants in the row (16, 22, 28 and 34 cm). It was concluded that ridging in the planting and the largest spacing of plants in the row in the range between 16 and 34 cm are the best management options for these factors, due to its decrease in the occurrence of mechanical damage in the canopy and further development of vegetation potato plants.