Assessment of Jatropha curcas Growth Performance as Affected by the Different Sources of Water

Abstract

Countries like Nigeria where water availability to serve both agriculture and industrial demands continues to be a problem of great concern. Water quality control and watershed management would only be possible with adequate information on the water bodies within a given locality, region or a country. Therefore, continuous assessment of the quality of water supplied to agriculture and nursery production is very paramount and necessary, in order to meet the United Nations’ campaign for providing good quality water for all human activities and uses by the twenty-first century. For this research, a combination of field and greenhouse studies were used. The water was sourced from three different locations (River water, Borehole water and Fish pond water) the water was stored each in three jar cans making a total of nine jar cans in all. River sand and cow dung were mixed thoroughly in the ratio 3:2 respectively, polyethylene bag and led out in Randomized Complete Block Design and replicated three times. The result revealed that pond water is the best water for Jatropha curcas growth performance followed by river water and the least among the sources of water is borehole water. This is due to the quality or state of being distinctiveness between the three (3) sources of water.