Bio-fuel Production Potentials of Jatropha, Produced by Combined Application of Rice Husk Dust and NPK in Southeastern Nigeria

In this study, we investigated the fruit, seed yield and biofuel production potentials of Jatropha curcas in soils fertilized with different rates of rice husk dust (RHD) and NPK 10:10:10. This study took place at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Technology, Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana from April 2020 to March 2021. Treatments comprised of six rates (0, 1,2,3,4 and 5 ton ha-1) each of RHD and NPK, arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in a factorial pattern. Nursery Jatropha seedling of average heights of about 30 cm and 5-6 true leaves were transplanted to the field a month after treatment application. Our measurement between 10 to 12 months of Jatropha growth focused on the number of fruits, weight of fruits, number of seeds, weight of seeds and quantity of oil per plant. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Least Significant Difference (LSD) tools were used to analyze the obtained data and separated the significant means respectively. The relationship between yield parameters and selected soil chemical properties was determined using correlation analysis. Results indicated that relative to control, addition of RHD and NPK as lone and combined treatments increased the fruit, seed yield and oil quantity of Jatropha. Relative to control, fruit number increased by 72.80%, fruit weight by 79.81% and number of seeds by 80.73%. Similarly, the seed weight and oil content increased by 28.11% and 21.485 respectively. Organic matter, available phosphorus and total nitrogen had highly significant correlation with fruit, seed yield and oil quantity. Treatments combination of 5tonha-1 RHD and 5tonha-1 relatively gave the most appreciable result in fruit, seed yield and oil quantity and therefore recommended.