Jatropha: Seeds of Hope for Alternative Fuel
One unintended side effect of developing fuels agriculturally has been an attendant increase in the price of those crops we depend on to feed the planet. While largely a result of futures speculations and commodity trading, the alarming spike in the cost of essential food products has dimmed the enthusiasm of many biofuel advocates.
Water requirements, fertilizer contamination, and competition for prime farmland all combine to render corn and soybean models of biofuel unsustainable for the future, despite government mandates and a strong public impetus toward green vehicle alternatives.
Others have turned their sights on sources which are not a part of the food supply. While the dietary needs of humans and other animals require nutritious seeds grown on premium land, some species of oily plants promise much higher yields without impacting the food supply.
In fact, the Jatropha tree, common in parts of Africa and Asia, is a hardy desert brush that is drought resistant and thus can be cultivated on lands which are otherwise barren. Hailed as a boon to poverty-stricken farmers of the Third World, the oil-rich seed of the obscure Jatropha may turn out to be an answer not only to the ever-growing energy needs of the Industrial west, but to the struggling inhabitants of arid regions the world over.
Estimates for the potential yield of large-scale production efforts vary greatly, but in all events show a steep improvement over the cultivation of current sources. In addition to providing one of the most efficient sources of seed oil to date, Jatropha, which bears seeds for five decades, also promises to ease soil degradation and help restore fallow lands.
Byproducts of biodiesel production include glycerin, which has many applications in industry and consumer products such as soap, biomass for cellulose alcohol, and nutrient-rich natural fertilizer from the pressed seed pulp. The extracted seed can also be used in a secondary cycle as methane.
Overall, estimates indicate that Jatropha yields will be up to four times greater than soy on the same acreage-causing farmers and governments to leap into production on this little-known tree which may someday power most of the diesel engines on Earth.
4 Responses to “Jatropha: Seeds of Hope for Alternative Fuel”
can you tell me more about the Jatropha tree.
- how many can be planted to the acre?
- where can the seedlings be found?
- who purchases the seedlings after they are picked?
- are grants available to startup a crop?
Thanks.
Well, planting density varies with the method of cultivation, so only a range can be given. In general, Jatropha is planted with at least 2 sq meters of width. At this density, 2500 plants per hectare can be grown, each yielding 15-20 kgs of oil-rich fruit annually.
Seedlings are available from many agricultural exporters; here is one which handles all phases of trade in the Jatropha: Dawn Exports @ http://dawnexports.sulekhab2b.com/
Grants are available in many countries for growing Jatropha, especially in India, where the plant is subsidized up to 50%. Naturally, the programs available will vary by country. US farmers may be eligible for carbon reduction credits and other green energy incentives.
Hope this helps!
Being one of the largest biodiesel producer in the world, we are actively looking at various kind of feedstock, including Jatropha and Pongamia.
As far as I understand, there are a myraid of issues associated with planting and harvesting Jatropha at the moment, some of which are:
1. Getting the best breed / variety of Jatropha.
2. Non-concurrent ripening of Jatropha seeds, thus making mechanical harvesting impossible.
3. And because of 2, Jatropha has to be planted in countries where labour cost is low (which is good, cause it helps to create jobs).
we sell jatropha curcas seeds wi9th phytosanitary certifcate 10€/kg minimun order 10 kg e-mail: jatropha.2000@yahoo.es