ASSESSMENT OF GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF Jatropha curcus L. AS AFFECTED BY FERTILIZER AND PLANT SPACING

Fagam A S, O O Benjamin, S. M Yunusa

Abstract


Field experiment were conducted at the Nursery site of the Federal College of Forestry, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria during the 2009, 2010 and 2011 wet seasons to investigate the effect of fertilizer rates and plant spacing on the growth performance of Jatropha curcus. The treatments consisted of three levels of plant spacing (1, 2, and 3cm) and six levels of fertilizer (0, 250, 300 and 350kgNPK/ha, 2500kg/ha of poultry manure and 2500kg/ha of cowdung) which were arranged and laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results of these experiments revealed that the growth indicators investigated were significantly affected by fertilizer and plant spacing. The 350kg NPK/ha produced the highest leaf area index, leaf area ratio, net assimilation rate, relative growth rate and crop growth rate in 2009 and 2010 seasons. However, in 2011, 2500kg/ha of cow dung produced the highest leaf area ratio. Planting at a spacing of 1m between plants consistently produced higher leaf area index in both years. However the 3m plant spacing had the highest leaf area ratio, net assimilation rate, relative growth rate and crop growth rate in three years of the study. Based on the results of this study therefore, it could be concluded that for maximum growth of Jatropha curcus L. The 350kg NPK/ha and 3m plant spacing could be suggested for farmers adoption in the Nigerian Savannah.

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