The objective of this work was to describe the periods of new-leaf formation, leaf abscission, the flowering and fuit-maturity of jatropha, Jatropha curcas L., as well as to determine some production variables of this species, in two crop cycles, fertilized with different sources of nutrient, in the municipality of Remígio, in the state of Paraíba. A randomized block design with five treatments and four replications was used. The treatments consisted of different sources of fertilization. During the months of May, 2007 to November, 2009 monthly evaluations of phenological events and the production of jatropha were made. Regardless of the treatment used, formation of new leaves was observed during the rainy season, and leaf abscission during both the colder and dryer months. Flowering in the first crop cycle began with the end of the rainy season, when using the organic compound II (F3), whereas in the second cycle, the first instances of inflorescence were observed at the start of the rainy season in those plants fertilized with the organic compound I (F2) and manure (F5). In all treatments the time verified between the instances of inflorescence and the physiological maturity of the fruit was approximately 120 days. For the first harvest, the sources of fertilizer did not produce any differences for any of the production variables, however, for the second harvest, besides there being an increase in production, the organic compound I (F2) and manure (F5) were those which gave the best results.
Jatropha curcas; Plant phenology; Flowering
