CRESCIMENTO INICIAL DO PINHÃO-MANSO (Jatropha curcas L.) EM FUNÇÃO DA IRRIGAÇÃO, ADUBAÇÃO ORGÂNICA E COBERTURA DO SOLO

Abstract

The aim of the present paper was to evaluate the Jathropa curcas L response to different doses of nitrogen, water regimes and soil surface nature. The experiment was conducted from May 2009 to February 2010 under greenhouse conditions at the Sustainable Development Center of the Federal University of Paraiba in Sumé-PB. A factorial experiment in blocks was used with four organic fertilizer (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg of N/ ha), four irrigation levels (50, 75, 100 and 125% the Class A pan evaporation) and four additional treatments with soil mulching. Sixty plastic vases 100 l capacity were used to cultivate the plants during 257 days and a Class A Evaporation Pan was installed in the greenhouse to monitor daily water evaporation. The plant variables evaluated were plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, total aerial and root dry mass. The increase of the soil water content and soil mulching had significant effect on the evaluated plant variables.