Abstract
The graphically measured one-sided leaf area (LAM) of individual leaves of Jatropha curcas L varied from 9.48 – 158.55 cm2 (mean = 72.094 ± 6.937 cm2 ; CV = 56.93%). The leaf area (LAM) was found to correlate significantly with multiplicative parameter of leaf length and breadth (LL x LB) as simple linear model (R2 = 0.983, F= 1955.64 (p < 0.0001) as well as the power model (R 2 = 0.9898; F = 2883.76 (p < 0.0001). Leaf area also correlated significantly with LL and LB linearly and combined in a multiple linear correlation / regression model (R 2 = 0.960; Adj. R2 : 0.958; F = 387.03 (p < 0.0001). The coefficient k estimated arithmetically as k = Area measured / (L x B) averaged to 0.858748 and distributed normally. On statistical comparison, the estimated leaf areas on the basis of above models were not found to vary significantly from the measured areas of the leaves (LAM). In view of simplicity and convenience, the method of using average k value of 0.858748 may be recommended for estimation of leaf area in J. curcas
