Year: 2016
Type: article
Abstract: The physic nut tree (Jatropha curcas) is an oilseed species with potential for biodiesel production. We evaluated the effect of soil acidity indices on nutrient uptake for optimal growth in physic nut plants grown on acidic soils under greenhouse conditions. Two soils were used in the experiment. Maximum growth was obtained with the application of 1.05 g lime kg-1 for both soils. Maximum growth of the physic nut plants occurred under the following conditions: pH of water = 6.1, calcium (Ca2+) = 17.0 mmolc kg−1, magnesium (Mg2+) = 5.7 mmolc kg−1, acidity saturation = 10.3%, base saturation = 52.3%, Ca saturation = 36.0%, Mg saturation = 12.0% and potassium (K) saturation = 3.8%. Furthermore, the nitrogen (N) requirement of physic nut trees was shown to be high, and to a lesser degree, Ca and Mg requirements were also high, suggesting that liming is very important in crop cultivation of this species.
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Zero hunger, Life on land
Open Access status: green
Award: G4682769395
OpenAlex ID: W2312441809