Abstract

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the vegetative development of Jatropha curcas under different irrigation depths and to compare two irrigation systems. The experiment was carried out at the EPAMIG Experimental Field in Jaíba, municipality of Jaíba, MG, Brazil. Jatropha curcas was planted by seeds in holes of 0.75x0.75m with depth of 0.5m at spacing of 4x2m. The experimental design was randomized in three blocks with 10 treatments, in 2x5 factorial, with two irrigation systems (microsprinkler and trickle irrigation) and five irrigation depths (40%, 60%, 80%, 100% and 120% of reference evapotranspiration). There were two evaluations, with one and two years after planting, when stem diameter and plant height were measured. Over the years there was a trend of increase in stem diameter and plant height with increasing water depth, and the best results were obtained with irrigation depths corresponding to 100% and 120% of reference evapotranspiration. Trickle irrigation system was better for Jatropha curcas development.

Keywords: Jatropha; Reference evapotranspiration; Trickle irrigation; Micro-sprinkler