Effects of humidity and dew on the early growth of jatropha (Jatropha curcas (Linn) seedlings in Kano, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the effects of Humidity and Dew on the early growth of Jatropha curcas seedlings in Kano, Nigeria. The experiment was conducted between 20 April, 2014 and 14 July, 2014. Humidity and Dew values were recorded using two Lascar EL- USB data loggers one at each of the two treatments (shade and sun). Early growth characteristics of Jatropha curcas seedlings were recorded at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks after sowing (WAS). Line graphs were used to describe the mean humidity and dew values. Table was used to show the early growth characteristics of Jatropha curcas. Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation was used to test whether there is significant relationship between the Humidity and Dew and the early growth characteristics of Jatropha curcas seedlings. The test was carried out at 0.05 significant levels. The Correlation results showed that there is a significant relationship between the Humidity and Dew and the early growth characteristics of Jatropha curcas seedlings in the sun treatment and also between Dew and seedlings emergence in both shade and sun treatments however; it showed that there is no significant relationship between the Humidity and Dew and the early growth characteristics of Jatropha curcas seedlings in the shade treatment. Jatropha curcas seedlings nurtured in the sun grows faster than their shade counterparts due to the vital role played by sunlight during photosynthesis and other growth processes. Finally, it is concluded that there is a significant relationship between Humidity and Dew and the early growth characteristics of Jatropha curcas seedlings nurtured in the sun.

Keywords: Dew, Early growth, Humidity, and Jatropha curcas