Estimating fruit production from Jatropha curcas L. | Estimating fruit production from Jatropha curcas L.

English. The essay aimed to estimate fruit production of physic nut as a function of planting spacing and easily measured morphometric variables. Thirty 36 months old plants were randomly selected from a commercial plantation established on a 3 x 2 or 5 x 2 m spacing. Measurements per plant included height (ALT), number of primary branches (NG), average diameter of primary branches (DG), number of leaves (NFL), leaf area (AFL), number of fruits (NF) and fruit fresh biomass (MF). The largest values of NF , MF, AFL, NFL and DG were measured in plants from the 5 x 2 m. The estimation of number of fruits per plant (NF) from the two plant spacing can be obtained with plant height and leaf number using the model NF = -143,7611 + 91,32257*ALT - 0,14648*NFL + 0,0001*NFL2.

Portuguese. The essay aimed to estimate fruit production of physic nut as a function of planting spacing and easily measured morphometric variables. Thirty 36 months old plants were randomly selected from a commercial plantation established on a 3 x 2 or 5 x 2 m spacing. Measurements per plant included height (ALT), number of primary branches (NG), average diameter of primary branches (DG), number of leaves (NFL), leaf area (AFL), number of fruits (NF) and fruit fresh biomass (MF). The largest values of NF, MF, AFL, NFL and DG were measured in plants from the 5 x 2 m. The estimation of number of fruits per plant (NF) from the two plant spacing can be obtained with plant height and leaf number using the model NF = -143.7611 + 91.32257*ALT – 0.14648*NFL + 0.0001*NFL2.