Number of stems and row spacing on growth and yield of cape gooseberry

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the number of stems and row spacing on cape gooseberry growth and yield in the open field. A completely randomized block design was adopted in a three-factor arrangement (number of stems × spacings × evaluations). The spatial arrangements used were the spacing between rows of 3.0 and 1.5 m, keeping 0.5 m between plants. The formation pruning consisted of maintaining 4, 6 and 8 stems per plant. The evaluations were carried out weekly from the pruning until the plant senescence. The height and diameter of the stem showed gradual growth and the number of leaves decreased with the beginning of production during the plant cycle. Plants conducted with four stems showed a larger stem diameter and a greater height in the 1.5 m spacing between rows, while the number of leaves, fruits and yield increased as the number of stems increased. The largest number of fruits and the highest estimated yields were found in the 1.5 m spacing between rows, regardless of the number of stems, with an average value of 621 thousand fruits ha-1 and yields of 2.15 t ha-1 for fruits with calyx and 1.70 t ha-1 for fruits without calyx.