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Jatropha
is a perennial poisonous shrub (normally up to 5 m high belonging
to the Eurhorbiaceae or spurge family. It is an uncultivated
non-food wild-species.
The plant, originating in Central America.
whereas it has been spread to other tropical and subtropical
countries as well
and is mainly grown in Asia and in Africa, where it is known
as Pourghere. It is used as a living fence to protect gardens
and fields from animals.
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It is resistant to a high degree of aridity and as such does
not compete with food crops.
The seeds contains 30% oil that can be processed to produce a
high-quality biodiesel fuel, usable in a standard diesel engine.
Cultivation is uncomplicated. Jatropha curcas can grow in wastelands
and grows almost anywhere, even on gravelly, sandy and saline
soils. It can thrive on the poorest stony soil and grow in the
crevices of rocks. Complete germination is achieved within 9
days.
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Adding manure during the germination has negative effects during
that phase, but is favourable if applied after germination is
achieved. However, it is usually multiplied by cuttings, because
this gives faster results than multiplication by seeds. The flowers
only develop terminally, so a good ramification (plants presenting
many branches) produces the greatest amount of fruits. Another
productivity factor is the ratio between female and male flowers
within an inflorescence (usually about 1 female to 10 male flowers
- more female flowers mean more fruits)[6]. Jatropha curcas thrives
on a mere 250 mm (10 in) of rain a year, and only during its
first two years does it need to be watered in the closing days
of the dry season. Ploughing and planting are not needed regularly,
as this shrub has a life expectancy of approximately forty years.
The use of pesticides and other polluting substances are not
necessary, due to the pesticidal and fungicidal properties of
the plant.
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While Jatropha Curcas starts yielding from 9–12 months time,
the effective yield is obtained only after 2 - 3 years time.
If planted in hedges, the reported productivity of Jatropha is
from 0.8 kg. to 1.0 kg. of seed per meter of live fence. The
seed production is around 3.5 tons / hectare (Seed production
ranges from about 0.4 tons per hectare in first year to over
5 tons per hectare after 3 years).
Processing
Seed extraction is made simple with the use of the Universal
Nut Sheller, an appropriate technology designed by the Full Belly
Project.
Oil content varies from 28% to 30% and 94% extraction, one hectare
of plantation will give 1.6 MT of oil if the soil is average.
The oily seeds are processed into oil, which may be directly
used to fuel combustion engines or may be subjected to transesterification
to produce biodiesel. Jatropha oil is not suitable for human
consumption, as it induces strong vomiting and diarrhea.
A colourant can also be derived from the seed. |
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