Abstract

Barbados gooseberry is an unconventional food plant with great protein production potential for human consumption. A field experiment was conducted with four types of soil covers and six replications to optimize the cultivation of this plant. Treatments were composed of four soil covers, forage peanut, straw from sun hemp and millet, white plastic cover, and a treatment without soil cover and with hoeing. After transplanting, the initial growth of seedlings was analyzed through weekly monitoring of plant height, stem diameter, and the number of leaves. After two months, the first cut was performed, and fresh biomass was quantified. Straw and white plastic cover presented improved plant height and leaf number compared to other treatments, resulting in a higher yield of Barbados gooseberry.

Key words: Pereskia aculeata Mill., vegetable protein, unconventional food plant.