Effects of Seed Provenance on Plant Establishment Index, Seedling Vigor Index and Speed of Germination of Physic Nut (Jatropha curcas L.) in Sokoto State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study on effects of seed provenance on plant establishment index, seedling vigor index and speed of germination of Jatropha curcas L. was carried out during 2019 raining season, at Teaching and Research Farm, Shehu Shagari College of Education Sokoto, Nigeria. Jatropha seeds were collected from different live hedges of plant in the State, from four local government areas in each of senatorial district. The treatments consisted of 16 different accessions of Jatropha, laid out in a completely randomized design, replicated three times. Experimental land was ploughed manually using hand hoe and leveled using rakes. Fifteen rows of ridges at 0.5m apart were constructed. Seeds were planted in June, 2019 through dibbling. Two seeds per hole at a spacing of 0.5 x 0.5m. Which were later on thinned to a plant per stand after germination. Fertilizer was applied at one month after planting (IMAP). Data collected was subjected to the analysis of variance (ANOVA), using the statistical analysis system (SAS, 2003). Significant differences in the treatments means were separated using the Duncan’s New Multiple Range Test (DMRT). The result obtained indicated statistically significant (P<0.05) variations among different seed accessions on parameters observed at the various periods of the observation. Seed accessions at SE1, SE3 and SW3 performed better than the rest the rest of the seed accession sources investigated. Therefore, it can be recommended for the environment of the study area for a maximum production dividend to the farmers and the other stakeholders in the production enterprise of the crop.