Assessing Growth Rate of Jatropha Plant (Height and Diameter) Under Different Method of Propagation in Nyankpala In Northern Region Ghana

ABSTRACT

The study was carried out at Nyankpala in the Northern region of Ghana from November 2012 to April 2013 to investigate the growth rate of Jatropha plant under two methods of propagation (seeds and cuttings) that best support the growth of the plant. Data on the survival rate, height and diameter were collected and other data were obtained through observation. Each of the plantation was divide into nine (9) plots and five plots were selected randomly for the studies. Each of the plantation had one thousand one hundred and thirty four (1134) Jatropha plants (shrubs) within an area of 2000 meter square. Eighty-nine point six eight percent (89.68) Jatropha plant cultivated with the seed method survived and ninety-two point six eight percent (92.68) survived under the cutting method of propagation. The diameter and height for both seeds and cuttings method of propagation showed irregular pattern of measurement. Results suggest that more research should be carried out at different areas within the region to have fair comparison on the growth performance.