Planting configuration is a management factor that influences production. Despite its importance for the establishment of commercial plantations of jatropha, the best planting configuration is still unknown, since its optimal planting density varies widely according to the climate and soil conditions of each region. This study aimed to determine the best planting configuration for jatropha cultivated in the Agreste region of Paraíba, Brazil. An experiment was set up in a randomized block design with 4 replicates. The mean values of plant height, leaf area, number of fruits per plant, number of seeds per plant, number of fruiting branches per ha, number of fruits per ha, number of bunches per ha and production of seeds per ha were significantly influenced by planting density in dense plantations. The highest seed production per ha was obtained at a density of 2,500 plants ha -1 (narrowest spacing).Keywords: Jatropha curcas L; spacing; production. Abbreviations: S: _Sum of bases; T_Cation exchange capacity; V_Saturation of bases; OM_Organic matter; LA_Leaf area, PH_plant height, SD_stem diameter, NVB/pl_number of vegetative branches per plant, NVB/ha_number of vegetative branches per ha, NFB/pl_number of fruiting branches per plant, NFB/ha_number of fruiting branches per ha, NInf/pl_number of inflorescences per plant, NInf/ha_number of inflorescences per ha, NF/pl_number of fruits per plant, NF/ha_number of fruits per ha, NBunch/pl_number of bunches per plant, NBunch/ha_number of bunches per ha, NS/pl_number of seeds per plant, NS/ha_number of seeds per ha, Prod/pl_production of seeds per plant, Prod/ha_production of seeds per ha, Σ_sum of leaf area, L_midrib length, W_leaf width.