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Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences

Year: 2004 | Volume: 7 | Issue: 9 | Page No.: 1620-1623
DOI: 10.3923/pjbs.2004.1620.1623
A Preliminary Study on Physic Nut (Jatropha curcas L.) in Thailand
S. Ratree

Abstract: A series of field experiments on Physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) was carried out on Warin soil series (Oxic Paleustults) at the Experimental Field, Rajamangala Institute of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Northeast Thailand. A Randomised Complete Block Design with four replications was used for each experiment. The results showed that Warin soil series is a poor, acidic sandy loam soil type in Northeast Thailand. The Physic nut of Chaiyaphume cultivar gave highly significant differences on growth in height and leaf number. Whilst Prae (Pae), Lampoon and Pitsanulok cultivars gave highly significant differences on leaf number alone. October planted Physic nut trees gave a highest mean value of seed yield. Seed yield increased with an increase in planting distances between rows and within rows. Stem cuttings for planting at a length of 90 cm gave the highest seed yield. Both tillage and non-tillage had no significant effects on seed yields. The longer the storage period of seeds the poorer the germination %. Raw Physic nut oil can be used in the substitution to a diesel engine fuel oil for tractor units and other diesel engines.

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How to cite this article
S. Ratree , 2004. A Preliminary Study on Physic Nut (Jatropha curcas L.) in Thailand. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 7: 1620-1623.

Keywords: germination % physic nut planting distances, tillatge and no tillage

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