Evaluation of Growth Performance of Physic Nut (Jatropha curcas) Seedlings on Different Soils in the Northern Guinea Savanna Agrological Zone of Nigeria

Abstract

The preliminary study was carried out to evaluate the growth performance of Jatropha curcas seedlings on different soils at the nursery of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization Afaka, Kaduna. Farm land soil, forest soil and granulated iron stone soil were sourced within the college premises and FRIN/JICA plantation. Jatropha curcas seedlings were sown on the different soils and each was replicated eight (8) times. The experiment was laid out in Complete Randomized Design (CRD). Growth parameters were collected forth nightly and was subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT). Results revealed that there are significant (P>0.05) difference in the height, stem diameter and number of leaf among the three different soil for the growth assessment. The growth rate recorded from the farm land soil are statistical higher (P>0.05) in leaf width, plant height and stem diameter than the other two soil while the growth parameters assessed were significantly lower (P>0.05) in iron stone soil and forest soil. It is recommended based on the parameters assessed that soil from the farmland gives the best result for raising and nurturing of J. curcas in the nursery without addition of any plant nutrient media.