NODA, Yolai; MARTIN, G. J; MACHADO, R. L    BRUNET, J. Production of Jatropha curcas fruits at an agro-energetic farm. []. , 37, 1, pp. 65-69. ISSN 0864-0394.

The study was conducted at a three-year-old area of Jatropha curcas, in order to evaluate the production of unripe, ripe and total fruits of J. curcas under pure crop and associated to cassava (Manihot esculent), and the fifth fruit production cycle of the plantation was taken into consideration. The treatments were constituted by the area of J. curcas as sole crop (T₁) and the one associated with cassava (T₂), with seven plots of 240 m² each. The results varied depending on the phenological stage of the fruits. There were no differences between the systems regarding the amount of unripe fruits; however, the production of ripe fruits increased significantly (p < 0,05) in the system where the crops were associated. The production of total fruits was 1 942 for T₁ and 2 080 for T₂. It is concluded that with the jatropha and cassava association similar total fruit productions can be obtained, compared with the system of jatropha under pure crop; but with the advantage of reaching additional agricultural productions, specifically of cassava, as well as a faster ripening of the jatropha fruits as a result of competition between crops. To repeat this experiment in time is recommended, as well as to associate jatropha to other crops, in order to determine whether this performance is maintained.

: energy crops; intercropping; crop systems.

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