Jatropha Oilseed

Paying for your fuel and for your carbon emissions.

Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) is one of the species of plants that produces oilseeds and grows throughout India. What many people don’t realise is that these oilseeds can be used for the production of biodiesel. Jatropha is superior to other oilseed trees because of the considerable research taken out by BAIF Development Research Foundation. BAIF has been researching the cultivation aspects of Jatropha for the past six years giving us a better understanding of it. Within four years of establishment regular seed harvests are possible.

Dr J. N. Daniel states that “its natural distribution throughout India is indicative of its adaption to diverse agro-climatic conditions”. Jatropha is often used as a hardy fence plant that and can survive with very little management.

On top of all this, the Jatropha oil to biodiesel conversion is higher than in non-edible oils. Combustion studies have also shown Jatropha biodiesel as having less polluting emissions than that of others.

So why don’t we all have Jatropha plants growing in our backyards? The only sensible answer is because no one has heard of it.

The oil content of the Jatropha kernel is around 25%. Although repeated harvest of seed will obviously drain the soil and the plant of nutrients and moisture, this can easily be replenished with fertisliser or manure and irrigation. The yield expected with average levels of fertilization, irrigation and management would be approximately 2.0 tons per ha per year.

We need to start thinking outside of the box and steeping out of our comfort zones. With petrol prices soaring and fossil fuels running out, maybe Jatropha is the answer. It’s less polluting emissions would do wonders for the environment, and because Jatropha is a tree, it leaves opportunity to earn carbon credits.

Biodiesel is typically made by chemically reacting lipids (e.g., vegetable oil) with an alcohol… you can make it in your own farm shed, hundreds of kilometres from your nearest big city. So why not turn the barren corner of your farm block, into your very own Jatropha plantation. You will be doing yourself a favour by saving money, and you will be doing your future grandchildren a favour by saving the environment.