Prof Dr. Mohan C. Saxena
Senior Advisor to DG,
International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA),
Increasing industrialization in the developing world is leading to spiraling increase in the demand of fossil fuel. Because of finite nature of fossil fuel reserves, the demand can not be met on sustained basis. In addition, the green-house gas emissions from fossil fuel are taking a heavy toll of the environment and contributing to global warming. Developing a reliable source of renewable energy is therefore attracting a major global attention. Several crop and tree species are good source of products that can be processed to produce bio-fuel on a sustained basis.
In the arid and semi-arid regions, particularly on the degraded lands and lands affected by moving sands, Jatropha curcas L. has proved to be a promising oil-bearing tree.
The seeds of this Euphorbiaceae tree contain more than 30 % oil, which can be used for making bio-diesel. The seed cake produced after oil expulsion is rich in nitrogen (> 5 %), phosphorus (>2.5% P2O5) and potassium (1% K2O) and can be converted into valuable organic manure for improving physical and chemical properties of the soil. The plant propagates freely from seeds as well as from cuttings and can start producing fruits in two to three years after establishment. It is well adapted to the harsh environments of desert margins, and can withstand drought once it is established through supplemental irrigation in the dry areas.
Preliminary studies have shown that it could prove a very promising species for rehabilitating degraded areas and protecting the land from wind erosion when introduced in dry areas within the framework of watershed management. A well established plantation of J. curcas could produce on good soil on an average about 5 tons seed/ha/year giving 1500 kg/ha oil and 2500 kg/ha seed cake. However, under marginal conditions a yield of 1.5 tons seed/ha can be expected. The crop is being promoted as a valuable source of bio-fuel produced on degraded drylands in several developing countries.
The government of India has a very ambitious plan for promoting J.curcas production on degraded lands and the private sector and the non-governmental organizations are providing technical support to farmers to harness full benefit from this valuable plant.
For more details please contact ICARDA at the contact link above. (Link will be active for registered users only)
© International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), 2006
