Author(s)

Gilvanise Alves Tito¹, Lúcia Helena Garófalo Chaves^1*, Josely Dantas Fernandes², Danilo Rodrigues Monteiro¹, Ana Carolina Feitosa de Vasconcelos¹

¹Department of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Campina Grande (DEAG/UFCG), Campina Grande, Brazil.
²Center of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, State University of Paraiba, Lagoa Seca, Brazil.

Crambe is a promising crop for biodiesel production. However, there is no much information available about techniques and research regarding the best performance in different regions to explore its potential. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of cadmium, chromium, copper and zinc in the development of crambe. The study was carried out in a greenhouse and it consisted of four independent experiments in completely randomized design, with three replications. Four metals with five levels were applied: 0, 10, 15, 20 and 25 mg·kg^-1 for copper, cadmium, chromium; and 0, 20, 30, 40 and 50 mg·kg^-1 for zinc, in order to evaluate the growth of crambe. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and comparison of means by Tukey test at 1 and 5% significance. Despite doses of cadmium, chromium, copper and zinc in growing crambe have influenced in some of the evaluated variables of the plants, in general, their development was similar in relation to doses and the metals applied. The importance of cultivating crambe is related to grain production, based on this, copper and cadmium decreased this production.

Heavy Metals, Biodiesel, Oleaginous

Tito, G. , Garófalo Chaves, L. , Fernandes, J. , Monteiro, D. and Vasconcelos, A. (2014) Effect of Copper, Zinc, Cadmium and Chromium in the Growth of Crambe. Agricultural Sciences, 5, 975-983. doi: 10.4236/as.2014.511105.