Evaluación de los métodos para la multiplicación de semilla en leguminosas herbáceas.

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate methods for multiplying seeds of herbaceous legumes using a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) with a 2 × 2 × 4 factorial arrangement, resulting in 16 treatments with 4 replications each. The results highlight that Mucuna negra grown in soil showed the highest performance in terms of days to flowering (97.99 days), flowering duration (21.09 days), and number of pods per plant (12.99), positioning it as a promising option for improving efficiency in sustainable agricultural systems. On the other hand, Canavalia ensiformis excelled in the number of seeds per pod, with an average of 7.97, and recorded the highest weight of 100 seeds (117,09 g) and the greatest production per hectare (776,29 kg. ha -1). These results demonstrate that planting conditions and the genetic characteristics of legumes have a direct impact on seed yield. Direct sowing in soil proved to be the most efficient method for both species, maximising their productivity. It is concluded that Mucuna negra stands out for its stability in variables related to flowering and number of pods, while Canavalia ensiformis is more suitable for maximising seed quantity and weight, making it an ideal alternative for mass production systems. These findings underline the importance of implementing specific agronomic management strategies for each species to optimise their performance and ensure the sustainability of herbaceous legume seed production systems.