Production components of Jatropha under irrigation and nitrogen fertilization in the semiarid region of Ceará

Abstract

A B S T R A C TJatropha curcas L. proves to be a promising species, considering its inclusion in the National Program of Biodiesel Production and Use. However, since it has not been genetically improved, agronomic information is still scarce in the literature, especially under conditions of water and nutritional stress. Thus, this field study aimed to evaluate the effects of irrigation depths (735; 963; 1,191; 1,418 and 1,646 mm) and nitrogen fertilization (0; 25; 50 and 75 kg ha -1 ) on the production of Jatropha plants. Plants under the highest irrigation depth showed the highest values of number of fruits and productivity of fruits, seeds and albumen. Plants under the irrigation depth of 1,191 mm showed the highest values of mean mass of albumen and the ratios between mass of albumen and mass of seeds and between mass of albumen and mass of fruits. Nitrogen fertilization did not influence the production components of Jatropha.Componentes de produção do pinhão-manso sob irrigação e adubação nitrogenada no semiárido cearense R E S U M O O cultivo do pinhão-manso (Jatropha curcas L.) se revela promissor ao se considerar sua inserção no Programa Nacional da produção de biodiesel, mas, por ser uma espécie não melhorada geneticamente, suas informações agronômicas ainda são pouco frequentes na literatura, sobretudo em condições de estresse hídrico e nutricional. Face ao exposto, realizou-se este trabalho de campo para avaliar os efeitos de lâminas de irrigação aplicadas, de 735; 963; 1.191; 1.418 e 1.646 mm e adubação nitrogenada aos níveis de 0; 25; 50 e 75 kg ha -1 de N na produção das plantas de pinhão-manso. Os maiores valores do número de frutos, produtividade de frutos, sementes e albúmen foram obtidos das plantas irrigadas com a maior lâmina aplicada. Os maiores valores da massa média do albúmen e das relações entre massa de albúmen e de semente e entre a massa de albúmen e do fruto foram obtidos nas plantas irrigadas com a lâmina de 1.191 mm. A adubação nitrogenada não influenciou os componentes de produção do pinhão-manso.

Genome sequence of Jatropha curcas L., a non‐edible biodiesel plant, provides a resource to improve seed‐related traits

“…The efficiency of Jatropha seed as a source for biodiesel has been underestimated compared to other oil seed crops (Gerbens-Leenes et al, 2009). The efficiency of Jatropha seed oil based on its actual yield produced by smallholders under rain-fed conditions compared with the those of soybean and rapeseed cultivated under additional irrigation deserves correction (Jongschaap et al, 2009); indeed, it shows better yield under better irrigation conditions in semiarid areas (de Carvalho et al, 2015). Furthermore, the toxicity of seed cake, which has similar energy potential to seed oil, makes the efficiency of Jatropha oil undervalued (Jongschaap et al, 2009).…”

Salt Leaching and Growth of Physic Nut (Jatropha curcas L.) on Oxisol under Swine Wastewater Fertigation in Southern Brazil

“…Jatropha curcas is a perennial shrub or small tree of the family Euphorbiaceae that has high yields, and is one of the most promising species for the production of oilseed [3], with an oil content of between 20% and 40% [4]. The yield of J. curcas seed may vary considerably (0.1-12 t ha -1 ), however, depending on growing conditions, although productivity can be expanded by up to 63% with increasing irrigation (from 735 mm to 1646 mm) [5]. While J. curcas thus appears to have potential as a crop for biofuel production, further agronomic research is needed to develop the most adequate cultivation practices, in order to maximise seed production.…”