Establishment and Early Field Performance of Jatropha Curcas L at Bindura University Farm, Zimbabwe

Abstract

The performance of J. curcas propagated through pre-cultivated seedlings, non-rooted cuttings and direct seeding, established at 3333, 2500, 1333 stems/ha and subjected to spot weeding, slashing and both spot weeding and slashing was evaluated. The trial was established on the 20 th of December 2006, in a 3 3 factorial completely randomized block design with three replications. Each plot consisted of 16 trees. Data were collected from the entire population. Height, root collar diameter (RCD) and survival were determined using standard forestry procedures. Data were analysed through one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) at 95% confidence level using SPSS version 15 (2003). Jatropha curcas established through pre-cultivated seedlings outperformed (P 0.05) among saplings established at 3333, 2500 and 1333 stems/ha planting densities as well as among those subjected to spot weeding, slashing and both spot weeding and slashing in terms of survival and growth in height and RCD. This research concludes that pre-cultivated J. curcas seedlings perform better in percentage survivals than non-rooted cuttings and direct seeded plants in agro-ecological conditions similar to those of the study site.