Abstract
Jatropha curcas is a tree species introduced in Niger as a trial experiment to offset land degradation and for biofuel production. The objective of this study is to contribute to the understanding of this species’ potential for adaptation under the edaphic and climatic conditions of Niger through analysis and modeling of the leaf area dynamics. The nondestructive method is used to evaluate the leaf area growth using four provenances and 120 samples of leaves of J. curcas plants. The results show that leaf area is optimal during the wet season of the year with non-significant difference (P > 0.05), while during other periods it is significant (P < 0.05) between provenances. The logarithmic model is the most accurate, and the models developed have a correlation coefficient between 0.95 and 0.99. The error analysis shows a mean absolute percentage of error between 5.92 and 27.43%, depending on the provenances. The accuracies of the developed models were appreciated, with root mean square of error varying from 0.72 to 2.06 cm2. Contrary to the expectation, for production of J. curcas in Niger’s Sahelian climate and soil, it is necessary to ensure additional irrigation water to the plants, especially during the dry period of the year. Key words: Exotic species, Jatropha curcas, adaptation, leaf area models, Niger.
Highlights
Jatropha curcas is a latex shrub, native to America, from the family of Euphorbiaceae
This study illustrated the dynamics of the leaf area of J. curcas plants in sandy soil and the Sahelian climate of Niger
The growth of J. curcas leaves was more effective during the wet period of the year, including July and August, with a nonsignificant difference between provenances
Summary
Jatropha curcas is a latex shrub, native to America, from the family of Euphorbiaceae. The tree species is considered for its multifaceted socioeconomic and environmental importance to society (Pandey et al, 2012; Bazongo et al, 2015; Traore et al, 2015).
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