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Last Update: 05. June 2008
Description: Examine different strategies for pruning (Stimulation of leaf building, shifting of fruit maturation time, techniques for pruning)
| | | Hard pruning at a plantation in Thailand | Regular pruning at a plantation in Thailand | | | Pruned plant shows good ramification and fruit building | Pruning was inducing a break in dormancy of the Jatropha plant |
Status of work: - Ongoing experiment regarding the appropriate time for pruning
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Program Leader: | | | Assistants: | | | Involved agencies: | None at present | Funding agencies: | No contractual arrangements so far |
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The pruning of Jatropha plants plays a crucial role in growth and in seed production. Jatropha experts have different opinions on pruning methods and the appropriate time for pruning. Plants can be pruned moderately once a year for increased branching but hard pruning, where most of the plant is cut back, is also practiced in several Jatropha plantations. Pruning methods should be adjusted to cultivation methods on plantations (e.g. different pruning methods for plantation aligned in hedges and for plantation with wide spacing). Apart from growth formation, pruning could also be used as a tool for breaking dormancy of the plant during the dry season. It was observed that pruning stimulated leaf building in the dry season. In January 2008, LIRE started an experiment where a selection of plants is pruned at regular intervals so that differences in the timing of pruning can be observed. The plants are screened regularly and correlations between pruning and growth parameter will be examined. | |
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