Citronella grass (Cymbopogon winterianum Jowitt.) has grown in importance due to an increasing demand of the essential oil. The influence of spacing (50 x 50; 50 x 80 e 80 x 80 cm), cutting height (15 and 30 cm above ground) and harvesting season (four, six and eight months after planting) on productivity and essential oil quality was evaluated. The study. occurred in field, in Pentecoste, Ceará State, Brazil, from September 2002 to September 2003. The treatments were organized in a factorial 3 x 3 x 2 scheme, in randomized block design, with three replicates. Cutting plants four months after planting date resulted in significantly higher essential oil production when cut at 30 cm height. Six months after planting date, higher yield was obtained at 15 cm height. The cutting height did not influence essential oil production when plants were harvested after eight months. Using larger plant spacing (80 x 80 cm) resulted in significantly higher essential oil production when plants were cut at 15 cm, divergent to the result observed with minor spacing (50 x 50 cm). The citronellol + citronellal content was significantly higher in plants cultivated at intermediate spacing and cut after six months at a height of 30 cm. The geraniol content, however, was higher in plants harvested after four months, with no influence of spacing or cutting height.
Cymbopogon winterianus; citronelal; geraniol
