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The study was to investigate the response of Jatropha curcas under drip irrigation
system. Five different irrigation treatments: consist of ND; daily water application, N4; irrigation
application 4 times a week, N3; irrigation application thrice a week, N2; irrigation application twice
a week, and NC; control (zero irrigation) were studied on growth, yield response and water use
efficiency of Jatropha, replicated three times and arranged in randomized complete block design
(RCBD). Jatropha seeds were planted at a spacing of 1.5 m X 1.5 m. The results indicated that there
were significant increases in the response of Jatropha to different water applications compared to
the control. Treatment ND produced the highest Jatropha fruit yield of 0.78 t/ha and NC recorded
the least value of 0.25 t/ha. Crop water use efficiencies of treatments ND, N4, N3, N2 and NC at
different irrigation water applications were 1.22, 1.14, 0.85, 0.61 and 0.54 in kg / ha mm respectively.
The total water use of 1185.69 mm was recorded for ND and 565.25 mm obtained for NC (control)
during the cropping season. The percentages of total water applied to total water use during
cropping season were 52.50 for ND and 24.00 for NC. The response of leaf area index, stem girth
and plant height of Jatropha to availability water was highest under ND treatment. The study
concluded that in terms of water use efficiency, ND treatment could be the best option.
Keywords: Irrigation regimes, water application, water use efficiency, yield response and Jatropha
curcas.