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SAINS TANAH – Journal of Soil Science and Agroclimatology, 12 (1) , 2015, 10-19
RESEARCH ARTICLE

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS IN THE GROWTH OF JATROPHA

AT POTORONO VILLAGE, YOGYAKARTA
M. Nurcholis*, S. Sumarsih, R. R. R. Brotodjojo and D. Haryanto

Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, UPN “Veteran” Yogyakarta

Jl. SWK 104 (Lingkar Utara) Condongcatur Yogyakarta, 55283. Indonesia
Submitted : 2015-02-14 Accepted : 2016-03-02

ABSTRACT

Jatropha curcas is a perennial crop that has been known by Indonesian people for more than
seven decades as a plant that produces renewable biofuel. In the present decade, plants producing
biofuel are expected to be developed to overcome the lowering nonrenewable fuel reserves. There
is a myth that jatropha can grow well on marginal lands and draught condition, perform well on non-
fertile soils, no need for agronomic management and is resistant to plant pests and diseases. This
study was conducted to identify the environmental factors that influenced the growth of jatropha on
the marginal land at Potorono village, Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia. Jatropha has been planted by
local people at the village road sides and on the marginal land field at the local governmental land in
this village. They grew jatropha on these areas with the purpose of preventing competition of area
utilization with food crops. The results showed that the growth of jatropha was restricted by low
content of organic matter, plant nutrition and poor soil drainage. Applications of manure and macro
nutrients (N, P and K) to this crop were able to increase crop performance. The number of shoots,
flowers and fruit bunches increased by manure and nutrients treatments. Field observation showed
that there were several plant pests, such as Aspidiotus sp., Paracoccus marginatus,
Poliphagotarsonemus latus, Selenothrips rubrocinctus, Chrysochoris javanus, Valanga nigricornis,
Chloracris prasina, and Helicoverpa armigera that attacked plant leaves and fruits. There were plant
leaf necrotic symptoms that caused by plant pathogens were also observed. The diseases are
bacterial leaf spot (Xanthomonas ricinicola), cercospora leaf spot (Cercospora ricinella) and rust
(Phakopsora jatrophicola). Thus, jatropha is like any other plants that need a good agro-ecological
condition to grow well and produce high yield.

Keywords: jatropha, marginal land, plant nutrition, pests, diseases

Permalink/DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.15608/stjssa.v12i1.215

INTRODUCTION friendly and people do not need to produce

Every day people need energy for the energy by themselves. Koonin (2006)
sustaining their life. Consumption of the mentioned that liquid hydrocarbons are well
energy always increases from time to time as suited for transport uses because of their high
population increase and with enhanced energy density and handling convenience.
economic status, people need more energy Unfortunately, the oil and gas reserves are
for their daily activities. The most important not renewable resources and the reserves
energy source is from fuels, and using fuels gradually decrease after huge exploitation,
from oil and gas from earth is very user which will continue to persist in five decades.
_____________________________________ Nielsen et al. (1977) have analyzed
* Coresponding Author : several types of plants that have developed
Email : [email protected] (Nurcholis, M.) the prospect of producing biofuels in the

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United States. Kerr (2010) reported that number 1 of 2006 that initiated a scheme to
renewable energy sources have some issues. develop alternative sources of fuel supply and
Fuel sources like corn kernels or wood chips the use of biofuels as substitute fuels. The
tend to be bulky and their energy content is Indonesian Government initially had a plan to
diffuse. He also mentioned that planting develop jatropha as one of the natural
energy crops and building solar or wind farms resources that will be processed into some
is a land-hungry process, and the energy they products of biofuels. Seeds of jatropha can be
deliver is often intermittent and hard to store. pressed and the extracted oil is able to be
Jatropha curcas is a famous perennial crop in processed into biokerosene, biodiesel or
the world that grows well in tropical regions. other products. On the other hand, research
This plant is planted in many tropical on the land suitability and agronomic
countries like in Africa and Asia, also in properties of jatropha, crop production, crop
Indonesia. In the past ten decades, management and plant pest and diseases is
Indonesians have used jatropha seeds to still few. In the 2000s, the US Federal
make fire or light as the seeds have high oil Legislation had also begun to explicitly
content. However, developing jatropha for support biofuels to provide opportunities for
commercial purposes has not been done as agricultural and rural development
huge exploitation of oil from earth by many (Committee on Economic and Environmental
giant industries is well developed. There is a Impacts of Increasing Biofuels Production,
myth among people that jatropha is a crop 2011). Accordingly, it needs information and
that may grow well and produces fruits on soil technology in relation to the agro-ecology of
with poor chemical and physical properties. jatropha to make clear about how to grow
They also think that this crop may be resistant jatropha and the type of environment in
to most plant pests and diseases. There are which jatropha may grow well.
still many people who expect that jatropha
could provide hope of using it as part of a MATERIALS AND METHODS
material that can substitute for diesel because The present study was conducted to
of its adaptability and high productivity identify the environmental factors that
(Darwis, 2009). Volckaert (2011) mentioned influence the growth of jatropha on the
that there were three kinds of myth which marginal land in Potorono village, Yogyakarta
develop among people on the jatropha, i.e. it Province. Field experiment was conducted in
can grow anywhere even in marginal soil, it’s the local governmental field that had been
a hardly non-edible tree, and does not need planted with jatropha in early 2008. This field
fertilizer. In reality, he stated that jatropha location is at a riverside which geomorpho-
can survive in marginal conditions, but will logically developed from flooded plains.
give marginal yields in those conditions; Cumulative deposition processes of the
Jatropha is not eaten by larger animals, but it volcanic material coming from Merapi volcano
has many pests and diseases; and jatropha resulting in alluvial plain and materials are
can survive in low-nutrient conditions but dominated by sand fraction. Water table of
better growth and higher seed yield is the land is fluctuated from near surface in the
observed with higher nutrient levels. rainy season until more than one meter in
There was an Instruction of the depth in the dry season. Some channels were
President of the Republic of Indonesia constructed at every field plot as a boundary

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of the plot and also to drain the excessive soil fruit bunches were measured for the present
water. In order to make the same starting research to understand the effect of the
point of each plant, the treated plants were environmental improvements to the
pruned previously. The experiment was vegetative and generative performance of the
designed by application of 2 kg of organic plant. All of these measurements were done
fertilizer as a basic treatment for each plant. periodically every two weeks.
Application of the NPK nutrients was done by
mixing the urea, SP36 and KCl fertilizers, and RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
there were four treatments. These following Development of jatropha
treatments were applied at the base of every Before this research was done, the
plant, i.e., control, A (2 kg compost, 40 g urea, community of the Potorono village had
20 g SP36 and 10 g KCl), B (2 kg compost, 80 g cultivated jatropha along both sides of the
urea, 40 g SP36 and 20 g KCl), and C (2 kg road as a hedge plant (Figure 1). They hoped
compost, 120 g urea, 60 g SP36 and 30 g KCl). that by planting jatropha they could start to
This experiment was done with five replicates. reach self sufficiency in energy. They wanted
Plant management was done including to process jatropha seeds as a raw material of
weeding, soil plowing around the plants and biofuel. They thought that an availability of
clearing the unproductive plant shoot and the fuels especially from earth would
leaf. Number of branches, width of canopy, gradually decrease, and also the government
height of plant, number of flowering shoots had to reduce the level of subsidy to minimize
and number of fruiting shoots and number of the annual budget. The head of village

Figure 1. Distribution of jatropha at Potorono village

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started introducing jatropha to the Potorono condition and there is a limited metabolism in
people in 2007, and this program was the plant. As the purpose of the growing
supported by the Office of Agriculture and plant is for producing fruit, it is impossible to
Forestry, Bantul regency. They also received expect that jatropha produce many fruits on
some training from the government in the draught condition without irrigating soil.
jatropha cultivation and how to process The same statement was made by Hannan-
jatropha seeds to produce biofuels. Jones and Csurshes (2008) that Jatropha is
Until the research was done, jatropha well adapted to seasonally dry tropical
was cultivated extensively in Potorono village. climates and can shed its leaves during the
However, the plants were not well taken care dry season. Therefore, it is difficult to expect
of and they developed like wild plants. The jatropha to grow well and produce a large
people were growing jatropha without regular number of fruits in the marginal land without
spacing; in general the plant spacing is in the additional water to soil in the dry season.
range of 2x2 m to 2x3m. They even planted Plant producing fruit needs continuing
jatropha more densely than those two kinds processes from building the plant body with
of spacing, which caused competition among high performance and then it generates fruit.
plants in sunlight uses and nutrition uptake. This process must be supported by availability
The result showed that the competition of water, nutrients and energy for the
among plants might cause early flowering and photosynthesis as long as plant producing
fruiting that resulted in low productivity. fruit until it reaches maturity.
Water stress on jatropha The tropical climate is characterized by
Most jatropha which is cultivated in a cycle of dry and wet seasons, so that
Potorono village showed a survival to draught jatropha needs irrigation in the dry season
effect by shedding the leaf. In this case period to support the availability of water in
jatropha showed an arrangement of branches soil. Koshel and McAllister (2010) mentioned
with a few shoots containing young leaves. In that there are three primary sustainability
this way jatropha is able to reach a balance indicators that have been selected as critical
between the transpiration rate of the plant for the specific biomass production systems
and availability of soil water. After the soil being investigated, i.e.: soil carbon, hydrology
was irrigated or received water coming from and water quality, and direct green house gas
rainfall, jatropha began to sprout immediately emissions.
and result in a green plant. Accordingly,
draught may affect the plant in the stagnant Pruning and fertilization

Waterlogged healthy condition draught

Figure 2. Jatropha performances in various condition (waterlogged, healthy condition and draught)

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Jatropha is characterized as a plant that but they would not be supported by enough
is able to grow fast when it gets enough nutrition.
water, nutrients and energy. So, it can be Figure 3 shows the results of the
stated that jatropha is responsive to flowering branches on the pruning and
fertilization. In the present study, jatropha fertilizer application. According to the B
was treated by addition of organic and treatment or applications of organic fertilizer
chemical fertilizers. So the pruning treatment (2 kg) and combination with 80 g urea, 40 g
resulted in the growth of many branches. SP36 and 20 g KCl might increase two times
However, without addition of organic matter the number of flowering branches for every
and nutrients, the shoots’ development did plant, while the C treatment resulted in a
not result in a domed type of plant. The new lower number than that of the B treatment.
shoots grew elongated and they developed In these experiments, some of the plants at
many branches and a few leaves only. the C treatment suffered from the local bad
Generally these leaves were yellowish in color drainage and it caused a stunted plant
and some young leaves were violet in color. growth. Based on the results of this study, it
The mature leaves fall faster causing the plant can be concluded that jatropha plants grown
to have some long branches with few leaves. in marginal environments cannot grow well.
The results of the present research The addition of elemental N, P and K is
showed that additions of organic matter and needed to improve the environment quality
nutrients on the pruned plants resulted in the for vegetative and reproductive growth of
growth of new shoots and development of Jatropha. It can be as a counter to the notion
branches with many green leaves. It means or myth that jatropha can grow and develop
that pruning might stimulate the branches to in a poor environment with high production
grow, and the accompanying fertilizer without good crop management.
application might give nutrients for Figure 4 shows the result of the
developing healthy leaves, whereas pruning fruiting branches on fertilizer application.
only might stimulate the growth of branches The productivity of growing jatropha in

Figure 3. Development of flowering branches on fertilizer application

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Figure 4. Development of fruiting branches on fertilizer application

Figure 5. Development of fruit bunches on fertilizer application

marginal environments does not necessarily for pruning, followed by the addition of
result in a high level of fruition. Field nutrients, it can increase the number of
observations showed that just by pruning the fruiting branches. By combining Figures 3 and
plants they cannot provide a lot of branches 4 it can be seen that there is a clear trend
that produce fruit. This is because jatropha is pattern between the number of flowering
planted in soil with a sandy texture and have branches and fruiting branches.
low fertility rates. For most sandy soils in Figure 5 shows a different
China, nutrient availability is the most limiting development between control and organic
factor (Zhao et al., 2005). These conditions do matter and nutrients treatments on the fruit
not favor the formation of new branches and bunches. Based on the results of this study it
then give the results in the form of fruit. As can be inferred that just by pruning without

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the addition of nutrients the plant cannot

produce a maximum quality of fruit. 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.
Nurcholis and Sumarsih (2009) mentioned that
jatropha like other plants, also requires
maintenance and fertilizer application in order
to get higher productivity. Krishna et al. (2008)
reported that the application of 5 kg of farm
yard manure (FYM) per plant to the un-pruned
Jatropha significantly increased the plant
Figure 6. Correlation between crown width
height compared to control consistently in
three years. and number of branches

Forming plant crown

Pruning is an effort to increase the
number of shoots that then become branches
and twigs. By doing the pruning in the proper
way, it may result in a forming the
composition of the branches and twigs likes
the crown. The pruning of plants with the aim
of forming a crown can be seen from the
correlation between the diameter of the
canopy and the number of branches (Figure
Figure 7. Correlation between crown width and
6). The results of the present study showed a
number of flowering branches
linear correlation between the diameter of
the canopy and the number of branches. providing nutrients addition cannot provide
Therefore, an increase in the number of the maximum branching growth.
branches of the main stem correlates with Figure 7 shows the width of the plant
forming the crown of the plant. Crown canopy diameter was positively correlated
formation is also beneficial in improving the with the addition of a flowering branch. This is
condition of the plant so that more leaves can because each branch is growing and can grow
utilize the energy from the sun. Putri et al. and get enough nutrients from fertilizer and
(2009) mentioned that every pruning of the then reach the generative growth. Plants are
primary branch may have the potential pruned to one bud right at the top of the
inhibition of apical dominance, thereby stem or branch segment can stimulate the
stimulating the growth of lateral buds that growth of new shoots around the segment.
eventually form secondary branches of the The principle of pruning is to stimulate the
plant. However, it should be understood that formation of vegetative and reproductive
relying solely on pruning activities without buds so that a wider field of branching will
increase crop productivity. The addition of

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macro nutrients N, P, K may help the Figure 8 shows the observed pests in the
formation of buds into panicles. present study, i.e.: scale insects (Aspidiotus sp.,
Paracoccus marginatus), mites (Polipha-
Pest and diseases gotarsonemus latus), thrips (Selenothrips
Field observation found eight insect rubrocinctus), scutellarids (Chrysochoris java-
pests and three diseases attacking jatropha. nus), grasshopper (Valanga nigricornis, Chlo-

Curly leaf caused by mites attack Brownish spot on leaf resulting from mites attack

Scutellerids attacks jatropha fruit grasshopper

Figure 8. Observed pests and symptoms at leaf and fruit

Figure 9. Observed diseases on leaf

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racris prasina), and caaterpillars (Helicoverpa fruit of jatropha, which can cause negative
armigera). The diseases that were identified effects on vegetative and generative growth.
(Figure 9) are bacterial leaf spot (Xantho- According to the results, it is concluded
monas ricinicola), cercospora leaf spot that the jatropha is not a miracle crop that it
(Cercospora ricinella) and rust (Phakopsora can grow well and produce many fruits on
jatrophicola). Darwis (2009) mentioned that marginal soil and even without management
the insect that is commonly found in jatropha of soil and plant. Jatropha is like the general
is Chrysacharis javanus. Furthermore, Putri et plants that it needs a good environmental
al. (2009) reported various types of pests condition to grow well and fruitfully. Pruning
found in jatropha, including termites and fertilizing are needed to stimulate lateral
(isoptera), caterpillars and ladybugs growth, increase the growth of shoots, and
(Chrysochoris javanus Westw.), grasshoppers, branches. Then it will also stimulate to gene-
while the disease identified is caused by rative growth that may result in productive
plants. Some pests and diseases may attack
pathogenic bacteria and fungus. Hannan-
the leaf and fruit of Jatropha, and therefore
Jones and Csurhes (2008) also reported that
we need to be aware of their potential for
Jatropha mosaic virus (JMV) is a potential pest
causing lower productivity.
of J. curcas and has recently been found in
southern India following the introduction of
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
its vector silverleaf whitefly (Bemissia tabaci
This research was granted by the Institute
‘B biotype’).
of Research and Community Services University
of Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran”
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS Yogyakarta (UPNVY). The authors also express
Jatropha is a plant that can grow well in thanks to Mr. Alex H. Rambadeta who have
wet tropical environments. However, the pleased help in correct English of this paper.
adequacy of water, plant nutrients and
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