Jatropha curcas

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Jatropha curcas

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Embryophyta
Class: Spermatopsida
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Genus: Jatropha
Species: J. curcas
Binomial name
Jatropha curcas
Linnaeus 1753.

Jatropha curcas, Barbados nut or Physic nut is a perennial poisonous shrub (normally up to 5 m high[1]) belonging to the Euphorbiaceae or spurge family. It is an uncultivated non-food wild-species.

The plant, originating in Central America [2], whereas it has been spread to other tropical and subtropical countries as well [3] and is mainly grown in Asia and in Africa, where it is known as Pourghère. It is used as a living fence to protect gardens and fields from animals. [4]

It is resistant to a high degree of aridity (it can be planted even in the desert [5] [6] [7]) and as such does not compete with food crops.

The seeds contain 27-40% oil [8] (average: 34.4% [9]) that can be processed to produce a high-quality biodiesel fuel, usable in a standard diesel engine.

Contents

[edit] Botanical features

  • Leaves: large green to pale-green leaves.
  • Flowers: more female flowers yield more seeds
  • Fruits : fruits are produced in winter, or there may be several crops during the year if soil moisture is good and temperatures are sufficiently high.
  • Seeds: the seeds are mature when the capsule changes from green to yellow.

[edit] Cultivation

Jatropha curcas seeds

Cultivation is uncomplicated. Jatropha curcas grows in tropical and subtropical regions.[10] The plant can grow in wastelands and grows on almost any terrain, 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. Adding manure during the germination has negative effects during that phase, but is favorable if applied after germination is achieved. It is usually propagated by cuttings as this yields faster results than multiplication by seeds. The flowers only develop terminally (at the end of a stem), 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)[11]. 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.

While Jatropha curcas starts yielding from 9–12 months time, the effective yield is obtained only after 2 - 3 years time.[12]

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).

[edit] Propagation

Jatropha curcas has limited potential for vegetative propagation and is usually propagated by seed. It is cross-pollinated and propagation through seed leads to a lot of genetic variability in terms of growth, biomass, seed yield and oil content. Besides, the problems of low viability and recalcitrant nature of oil seeds limits the sexual propagation. On the other hand, clonal techniques will help in overcoming the biological problems hindering mass propagation of this tree-borne oilseed species.

Jatropha curcas can be propagated by seed as well as vegetatively. Propagation by seed. Vegetatively, this crop can be propagated by stem cuttings, grafting, budding as well as by air layering techniques.[13] The investigation leads to the recommendation that cuttings should be taken preferably from juvenile plants and treated with 200 micro gram per litre of IBA (rooting hormone) to ensure the highest level of rooting in stem cuttings of Jatropha curcas. Thus stem cuttings, grafting, budding and air layering methods of propagation could be used as a potential protocol for commercial propagation of Jatropha curcas.

[edit] Gallery

propagation of Jatropha curcas by stem cutting

propagation of Jatropha curcas by grafting

propagation of Jatropha curcas by Air layering

[edit] Processing

Seed extraction is made simple with the use of the Universal Nut Sheller, an appropriate technology designed by the Full Belly Project.[14]

Oil content varies from 28% to 30% and 94% extraction, one hectare of plantation will give 1.6t (metric tonne) of oil if the soil is average. [15]

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.

[edit] Uses

[edit] Biodiesel

Main article: Jatropha oil

[edit] Other uses

(The information in this section is largely inspired from the Purdue University - Center for New Crops and Plants Products website [16].)

  • Leaves
The young leaves may be safely eaten, steamed or stewed. Cooked with goat meat, they are said to advantageously counteract its smell.
Pounded leaves are applied near horses' eyes to repel flies in India. HCN (Hydrogen cyanide) is present in the leaves.
  • Flowers
The species is listed as a honey plant. HCN is present.[17].
  • Nuts
Sometimes roasted and eaten, although they are purgative.
They can be burned like candlenuts when strung on grass. HCN is present[18].
Used as a contraceptive in South Sudan[19].
  • Seeds
Also used as a contraceptive in South Sudan[19].
The oil has been used for illumination, soap, candles, the adulteration of olive oil, and making Turkey red oil. Turkey red oil, also called sulphonated (or sulfated) castor oil, is the only oil that completely disperses in water. It is made by adding sulfuric acid to pure Jatropha oil[20]. It was the first synthetic detergent after ordinary Soap, as this allows easy use for making bath oil products. It is used in formulating lubricants, softeners, and dyeing assistants[21].
The seeds in the zone around Misantla, Veracruz are very appreciated by the population as food once they have been boiled and roasted. It is unclear if this is due to the existence of a non-toxic variety of Jatropha in Mexico and Central America, or if the seeds become edible once processed by cooking[22].
It is also similarly reported that Jatropha seeds are edible once the embryo has been removed[23]. Again it may be so because of these seeds coming from a local non-toxic variety. HCN is present.
  • Roots
Their ashes are used as a salt substitute. HCN and Rotenone are present.[24]
  • Bark
Used as a fish poison. HCN is present.[25].
  • Latex
Strongly inhibits the watermelon mosaic virus[26].
  • Sap
It stains linen. Sometimes used for marking[27].
  • Shrub
Mexicans grow the shrub as a host for the lac insect, which is used in medicine as hepatoprotective and antiobesity drug. (Picture of lac insect here [5]; drawing of insect, its larva and a colony here[6])
Used for erosion control[28], [1]

[edit] Other names

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  • Gadekar Kumarsukhadeo Prakash. (2006) Department of Forestry, Indira Gandhi Agricultural University Raipur (C.G.)M.Sc. Forestry Thesis "Vegetative propagation of Jatropha, Karanj and Mahua by Stem cuttings, Grafting, Budding and Air layering"
  1. ^ a b “Jaropha curcas l. in Africa - Assessment of the impact of the dissemination of “the Jatropha System” on the ecology of the rural area and the social and economic situation of the rural population (target group) in selected countries in Africa”[1].
  2. ^ Wageningen UR - Plant Research International - Research
  3. ^ http://www.jatropha.wur.nl , http://jatropha.org/system.htm
  4. ^ The Jatropha System with logo97
  5. ^ Why Jatropha curcas ?
  6. ^ JATROPHA IN AFRICA. FIGHTING THE DESERT & CREATING WEALTH
  7. ^ Jatropha: creating desert solutions
  8. ^ Achten WMJ, Mathijs E, Verchot L, Singh VP, Aerts R, Muys B 2007. Jatropha biodiesel fueling sustainability?. Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining 1(4), 283-291.DOI: 10.1002/bbb.39The Jatropha Archives
  9. ^ Achten WMJ, Verchot L, Franken YJ, Mathijs E, Singh VP, Aerts R, Muys B 2008. Jatropha bio-diesel production and use. (a literature review) Biomass and Bioenergy 32(12), 1063-1084.DOI: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2008.03.003The Jatropha Archives
  10. ^ http://www.agricultureinformation.com/forums/sale/19166-jatropha-curcas-seeds-seedlings-sale.html Warm climate reference
  11. ^ "Generative propagation of Jatropha curcas L. on Kalahari Sand." in The Jatropha Journal.
  12. ^ Jatropha curcas Plant Seed Suppliers and Exporters in India
  13. ^ Gadekar Kumarsukhadeo Prakash. (2006) Department of Forestry, Indira Gandhi Agricultural University Raipur (C.G.)M.Sc. Forestry Thesis "Vegetative propagation of Jatropha, Karanj and Mahua by Stem cuttings, Grafting, Budding and Air layering"
  14. ^ - The Full Belly Project
  15. ^ The Cultivation of Jatropha Curcas
  16. ^ Purdue University-Center for New Crops and Plants Products
  17. ^ Little, Woodbury, and Wadsworth, 1974. In The Jatropha Website
  18. ^ Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962. In The Jatropha Website
  19. ^ a b List and Horhammer, 1969–1979. InThe Jatropha Website
  20. ^ Turkey Red Oil - A defoaming & wetting agent, manure, lubricant
  21. ^ CastorOil.in – Home of Castor Oil Online [2]
  22. ^ Birgit Schmook (cited by Henning), in “Assessment of the potential of Jatropha curcas, (biodiesel tree) for energy production and other uses in developing countries.” Mike Benge (bengemike at aol dot com), Senior Agroforestry Officer, USAID (Ret.) July 2006 and updated August 2006[3]
  23. ^ Levingston and Zamora (cited by IPGRI), in “Assessment of the potential of Jatropha curcas, (biodiesel tree) for energy production and other uses in developing countries.” Mike Benge (bengemike at aol dot com), Senior Agroforestry Officer, USAID (Ret.), July 2006 and updated August 2006. [4]
  24. ^ Morton, 1981.
  25. ^ Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962. In The Jatropha Website
  26. ^ Tewari and Shukla, 1982. In The Jatropha Website
  27. ^ Mitchell and Rook, 1979. In The Jatropha Website
  28. ^ (biofuel) Jatropha book - New IPGRI Series Promotes Underutilized Crops.

[edit] External links

Sister project Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Jatropha curcas
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