Abstract
Jatropha is a plant that produces biodiesel and possesses great economic significance due to its characteristics of growing on barren, eroded lands under harsh climatic conditions, demanding low moisture and resulting in productive harvests. The experiment was conducted for consecutive two years (2010 to 2011) in a three replicated Strip Plot Design to examine the nutrient requirements using four N-P-K levels @ 0-0-0, 40-40-40, 60-60-60 and 80-80-80 g plant-1 or three jatropha cultivars (Malyasian, Thai and Indian). The results obtained on the effect of NPK levels on growth, seed yield and oil content of these Jatropha varieties. The NPK @ 60-60-60 kg ha-1 showed appropriate result with 524.9 fruits plant-1 , 1827 kg ha-1 seed yield and 30.97% oil content, followed by NPK @ 80-80-80 kg ha-1 and minimum values for all the traits were observed under control. The response of Thai variety to NPK was more remarkable than Malasian and Indian varieties. The interactive effect of NPK @ 60-60-60 kg ha-1 × Thai variety × 2011 produced maximum crop performance over rest of the treatment combinations. Statistically, the effect of NPK levels on growth, seed yield and oil content of all the varieties was significant (P
