Effect of planting density on establishment and growth of Jatropha in Baluchestan, Iran

Subject Areas : forest science

Mohammad Yosef Achak ¹ , Hashem Keneshlo ² , Hadi Darroudi ³

1 - M. Sc. Forest and Rangelands Research Department, Baluchestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Iranshahr , Iran.
2 - Assistant Professor., Forest and Rangelands Research Division, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran,
3 - Faculty member of Forest and Rangelands Research Department, Baluchestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Iranshahr , Iran.

Received: 2018-05-30 Accepted : 2018-11-03 Published : 2019-02-20

Keywords: Biodiesel, Survival, Adaption, Bahokalat,

Abstract :

In recent years, declining of fossil fuel reserves, increasing greenhouse gas emissions and climate change effects have forced the global communities to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels, increasing attention to biofuels as a renewable energy source. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of plant density on Jatropha seedlings growth in Balochestan climate (Bahokalat region in Chabahar). Jatropha adaptation was examined using a statistical design of randomized complete blocks at four planting densities of 1111, 1333, 2500 and 3333 plant per hectare (planting distances were 3×3, 3×2.5, 2×2 and 2×1.5 meters, respectively). Studied factors included survival percentage, total height, vigourity, collar and crown diameter. The results of one-way analysis of variance and Kruskal-Wallis test showed that the first year-study the vigourity of the seedlings was affected by planting distance, and the treatment with a density of 1111 plant per hectare had the best vigourity. But in the second year, survival percentage was affected by planting distance and there were no significantly difference in other parameters. In general, according to the results, it can be claimed in the first years, due to the small size of trees, intra-species competition is not much intense and the planting distance does not have much effect on the growth of planted seedlings. According to the more survival in wide planting distance, and predicting trees growth in the following years, it seems that the 3×3 planting distance is more practical and suitable.