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Jatropha
Jatropha is also commonly known as:
Physic Nut (English)
Barbados Nut (English)
Pourghere (French)
Soil
Jatropha prefers alkaline soils, but it easily grows on a large variety of other soils, including sandy ones. It needs a minimum annual rainfall of 500mm, even though in times of extended drought, it survives by shedding its leaves.
Jatropha oil seeds contain around 35% oil thus, depending on oil-seed yields, up to 7,000kg of oil per hectare can be achieved. Raw oil can be obtained by simple cold pressing of the seeds.
Watering - Irrigation
The Jatropha seedlings require irrigation especially during the first couple of years of plantation. The requirement of water is contingent upon local soil and climatic conditions. However, if irrigation is necessary, JatrophaTech believes drip irrigation is the most optimal solution.
Jatropha Pruning
Pruning is done during the first year when the branches reach a height of 40 - 60 centimeters and latter during the second and third years to ensure the Jatropha tree grows into a shape aiding the Jatropha harvesting.
Pests & Diseases Control
Jatropha is highly disease-resistant and insect attacks are unlikely. Additionally, Jatropha seeds and green leaves are poisonous which work as a very effective barrier against most pests.
Jatropha Cultivation
Jatropha can be cultivated as monoculture, mixed cropping, or used as live-fences.
The Jatropha tree being a perennial crop in a good establishment provides Jatropha yields up to 50 years. Another important requirement is the provision of good drainage.
Jatropha trees grow best with ample supplies of hot weather and medium to low rain- fall. Tropical and subtropical districts provide the required temperatures.
The Jatropha trees are susceptible to frost damage. Light to moderate frost will affect only young growth, but a severe frost will cause extensive defoliation and kill some trees.
The plants have a good regulation of water use and growth will survive in soils drying out for some interval. Both the local rainfall and groundwater supplies determine the need for irrigation. Jatropha has been very successful in medium to dry regions of the tropics with annual rainfall of 300-1000 mm. It grows naturally at lower altitudes (0-500 m) in areas with average annual temperatures well above 20c, but can grow at higher altitudes and tolerate slight frost.
Subject to soil quality, nutrient and fertilizer
application, water application and macro and
micro-environmental variables, JatrophaTech
plantations will bloom and produce fruit all year round, making it possible to spread the Jatropha harvest throughout the year.
Jatropha Harvesting
The flowering in Jatropha will depend upon the location and agro-climatic conditions, but generally JatrophaTech's
cloned seedlings will produce flowers in the first
4-months and quickly revolve into oil-seeds (fruit).
With current knowledge and using random seed collection, the minimum target oil yield from a Jatropha plantation should be in the 8-10 tons per hectare range. These yields relate to a yearly Jatropha harvest and they tend to be similar in all regions.
This could be greatly increased to 15-25 tons per hectare when utilizing JatrophaTech
cloned seedlings. By cloning the strongest
and highest yielding plants, the clones will
inherit the characteristics of the initial
plants.
Post-Harvest Treatment
Jatropha oil has a long shelf life and can be stored to suit market considerations. Issues to address are the use of clean inert containers that are sealed to prevent the diffusion of water vapor, and storing under nitrogen to reduce the formation of oxidation products. The containers are commonly of stainless steel and there is an increasing trend to use stainless steel throughout the distillation pathways.
Description of the Jatropha plant
A large, erect shrub or small tree 2-6 meters in height.
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