Evaluation of jojoba clones grown under water and salinity stresses in Chile

Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis(link) Schneider) could be a potentially profitable crop for arid and semi-arid regions of Chile. Thus, several selected jojoba clones were established at representative saline (Quebrada de Camarones: EC 38 dS m(-1) in soil and 7.32 dS m(-1) in water) and non-saline (Las Cardas: EC 1.5 dS m(-1) in soil and 1.0 dS m(-1) in water) sites in Chile to evaluate productivity potential. At the Las Cardas field trial, under severe water stress, seed yields for 17 clones ranged from 81 to 1131 g/plant in the fourth year of growth. Even with the very low application of water used at this site (6 l/plant/week = approximately 20 mm per year), the average seed yield in the fourth year of the five highest producing clones was 466 g/plant. Al Q. de Camarones, under extreme salinity seed yields for seven clones ranged from 202 to 1070 g/plant. At this location, the three highest yielding clones averaged 815 g/plant. Results suggest that these clones are suitable for commercial production in a saline condition similar to that of Q. de Camarones. Seed oil concentration of the clones was highest at Q. de Camarones. Economic analysis indicated that commercial plantations using the best clones could be a profitable alternative for the arid and semi-arid regions of Chile. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.