Growth of Jatropha curcas L. under different short rotation-based agroforestry in Cuenca, Batangas, Philippines

Issue Date

12-2014

Abstract

The global climate change heightened the interest and concern of towards green economy. The Philippines, being one of the countries in Southeast Asia that is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, crafted the Biofuels Act of 2006 mandating the transportation sector to use the biofuel blends. One of the potential alternative energy sources which pro-actively caters to the mitigation and adaptation of climate change and rehabilitation of marginal land is biofuel plant species. Jatropha curcas L.is among the plant-based fuel substitute considered to have a potential as biodiesel as well as for land rehabilitation. This study assessed the growth performance of J. curcas grown in an agroforestry-based system in the marginal upland of Mt. Makulot San Isidro Cuenca, Batangas, Philippines. Specifically, it aimed to determine the growth of J. curcas under different short rotation forestry (SRF)-based agroforestry system and identify the most suitable planting configuration scheme of J. curcas for rehabilitation of marginal lands based on its vegetative growth. Research results showed that the production system had significant influence on the growth performance of J, curcas grown in the SRF- based agroforestry system. Among the important growth parameters influenced by the planting configuration are root collar diameter, height and aboveground biomass production. All the planting configuration produced study J. curcas indicating its potential suitability to sites exposed to strong winds. Acceptable shootroot ratio of 1:1 and 1:2 are likewise produced in all the planting configuration and SRF-based agroforestry system. However, J. curcas is best grown in SRF-based agroforestry system with A mangium and E. deglupta (4x2m spacing) in the marginal upland area of Cuenca, Batangas, Philippines.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Journal of Crop Science

ISSN

0115-463x

Volume

39

Issue

3

Page

34-44

Document Type

Article

Frequency

tri-quarterly

Physical Description

tables

Language

English

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS