EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE ON THE EARLY GROWTH OF JATROPHA SEEDLINGS IN KANO, NIGERIA.

Adamu I., Sawa B.A.* and Abdulhamed I.A.

This study examined the effects of Temperature on the early growth of Jatropha seedlings at the experimental site of the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) Shelterbelt Research Station, Katsina Road, Dala LGA Kano, Nigeria. The experiment was conducted between April and July, 2014. Temperature values were recorded using Lascar EL- USB Data Logger attached to a pole at 1.2m above the ground. Early growth characteristics (number of days to seedlings emergence, plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, number of leaves per plant, fresh weight per plant, dry weight per plant and crop growth rate (CGR) per plant) of Jatropha seedlings were recorded at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks after sowing (WAS). Bar graphs were used to describe the mean temperature values and number of days to seedlings emergence. Table was used to show the early growth characteristics of Jatropha. Pearson’s product moment correlation was used to test whether there is significant relationship between the Temperature and the early growth characteristics of Jatropha seedlings. The test was carried out at 0.05 significant levels. The correlation result showed that there is a significant relationship between temperature and the early growth characteristics of Jatropha seedlings nurtured in the sun. It is therefore recommended that Jatropha should not be grown in shaded areas as it grows better and faster in the open.

Key words: Jatropha curcas, Monoecious, Shelterbelt, Temperature.