09 Provenance Trials, Cabo Delgado

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Implemented by: Flemming Nielsen (FACT/ Banana hill) (2008-present)

Main findings: The plants are too young to allow any firm conclusions. Furthermore the data collection was not of sufficient quality for part of the time and only short reliable data series have thus been obtained so far.

Objective

To identify the highest yielding provenance of Jatropha curcas

Background

Introduction of better provenances of Jatropha curcas has the potential for increasing the benefits to farmers. Currently experimentation is hampered by the lack of characterisation of provenances so little is known about what to expect from different provenances. The genetic fingerprinting of Jatropha curcas germplasm that is currently ongoing will eventually provide a sound basis for selecting provenances for testing. Currently we are limited to including seeds collected at different localities and hope that we capture significant genetic variation.

To be able to create relatively controlled conditions for the experiment the Farmers' Groups' demonstration fields are used for the experiment. In this way the trial can easily be used for teaching and it will be observed by many farmers.

It is foreseen that the best performing trees will eventually be used as mother trees in the area. To allow the trees to grow big a spacing of 3 x 3 meter was chosen.

Provenances

Mozambique (local seeds)
Tanzania (Diligent)
Guatemala
One of the above

A 2 x 2 layout is used but since only three treatments are available the last square is planted with any available Jatropha.

Experimental Design

A Randomized Complete Block Design is used. Four blocks have been established.

Layout

3 m between plants
4 m between treatments
     _________________________________
    |            4m clearing          | Randomization
    |                                 |  Block 1:  2 3
    |    A   A   A       B   B   B    |            1 4
    |    A   A   A       B   B   B    |
    |    A   A   A       B   B   B    |  Block 2:  1 3
24m |                                 |            4 2
    |                                 |
    |    C   C   C       D   D   D    |  Block 3:  4 1
    |    C   C   C       D   D   D    |            3 2
    |    C   C   C       D   D   D    |
    |                                 |  Block 4:  4 2
    |_________________________________|            3 1

Management

The Jatropha curcas will be pruned according to the recommendations from the project.

Data Collection

Data to be collected:

Jatropha curcas yield, dry weight de-shelled fruits collected monthly

A farmer involved in the demonstration plot should get the task of collecting seeds regularly in four clearly labeled net bags; one for each treatment.
Once a month project staff will collect the net bags and bring them to the project headquarters for drying and weighing.

Project staff will also measure the height of the plants every three months and count the terminal branches annually.

All data will be entered into data sheet and alter into a spreadsheet.

Location of Trials

Site Layout

Photo Documentation

Provenance trial block 1

October 2008

April 2009

September 2009

April 2010