EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF NITROGEN SUPPLEMENTATION IN THE SOIL ON THE GROWTH AND PRODUCTIVITY OF PEDILANTHUS TITHYMALOIDES VAR. GREEN –A POTENTIAL PETRO CROP

A decline in petroleum supply in recent years has stimulated a search for alternative sources of energy.Biomass has proved to be clean and universal source to harvest solar energy into usable forms.Certain plants produce low molecular weight hydrocarbons which could be converted into petroleum like substances.However, as these plants grow in semi-arid conditions, their productivity is low and the present study is an effort to improve the growth and productivity of one such plant. Pedilanthus tithymaloides var.Green is one such petro plant which besides yielding valuable petroleum products also has pharmaceutical importance.Various dosages of nitrogen fertilizer (30-240kg/ha) were supplemented to monitor the growth and productivity of the plant.Maximum plant growth was observed at 60 kg/ha.Maximum dry weight was recorded at 90 kg/ha.240 kg/ha nitrogen increased hexane extractables to the maximum.Total sugars and chlorophylls were also maximum at 60 kg/ ha nitrogen supplementation.