ABSTRACT
Planting density: Key factor for crop management of Cassia angustifolia Vahl

Emilia Constantinescu1, Sorina Nitu-Nastase2, 3*, Dorina Bonea1*, Liviu Aurel Olaru1, Vasile Adrian Blaj3, Ion Saracin1, and Virgil Nitu2
 
Medicinal plants (MP) are used in various forms (teas, tinctures, creams, food supplements, etc.), with a single purpose, that of improving the quality of human life from birth to senescence. The choice of the species Cassia angustifolia Vahl, to be introduced into culture and for the development of mechanized cultivation technology is argued by the high demand for ecological raw material, correlated with climate changes. Establishing the optimal planting distance is very important in crop management to improve plant growth and yield. In this study, the effects of planting density on the growth and yield of C. angustifolia plants were evaluated in the edaphoclimatic conditions of Brasov, Romania. The experiment included three factors: Factor A – experimental year: 5 April 2016 (A1), 11 April 2017 (A2), 4 April 2018 (A3). Factor B – Distance row by row (RR): 25 (B1), 50 (B2), and 70 cm (B3). Factor C – Distance plant by plant (PP): Continuous row (C1), 15 cm (C2), and 25 cm (C3). Three years’ data indicated that plant density of 25 (RR) × continuous row (PP) resulted in obtaining the highest yield of fresh (48.33 t ha-1) and dry (7.93 t ha-1) biomass. Increasing planting density increased individual plant development (height, number of branches and weight), but reduced yield of biomass.
Keywords: Cassia angustifolia, dry biomass, height, mechanized technology, planting distance.
1University of Craiova, Faculty of Agronomy, 200421 Craiova, Dolj County, Romania.
2National Institute of Research and Development for Potato and Sugar Beet Brasov, 500470 Brasov County, Romania.
3Institute of Research and Development for Grassland Brasov, 500128 Brasov County, Romania.
*Corresponding authors (nastasesorina03@gmail.com; dorina.bonea@edu.ucv.ro).