>>What is Jatropha? >> Botanical Features>>Ecological Requirements
What is Jatropha?

Jatropha treeFamily: Euphorbiaceae
Synonyms: Curcas purgans

Jatropha curcus is a drought-resistant perennial variety of castor, which grows well in marginal/poor soil. It is easy to establish, grows relatively fast and survives for 50 years. It is wild in nature and propagates easily at any place, climate and temperature conditions.
Jatropha grows wild in many areas of India and can thrive on infertile soil. A good crop of Jatropha can be obtained with little effort. Production of seeds usually takes place within 2 to 5 years depending on the soil quality and rainfall. Jatropha seeds consist of about 60 percent oil; which can be transformed into bio-diesel fuel through the process of esterification.
The oil can be combusted as fuel without being refined. It burns with clear smoke-free flame. It has also been tested successfully as fuel for simple diesel engine. The by-products are press cake, which are a good source of organic fertilizer. The oil also contains insecticide. 
Medically it is used for diseases like cancer, piles, snakebite, paralysis, dropsy, etc.
top
Botanical Features
It is a small shrub or a tree with smooth gray bark which grows between 3 to 5 meters in height and can attain a height of 8 to 10 meters under good conditions. Its bark gives out a whitish colored watery latex when cut.
Leaves:
jatropha leavesIt has large green to pale-green leaves,alternate to sub-opposite, three-to five-lobed with a spiral phyllotaxis.
top
Flowers:
jatropha flowersThe length of petiole ranges between 6-23 mm. The inflorescence is formed in the leaf axils. Flowers are formed terminally, individually, with female flowers usually slightly larger. Flowering usually occurs in the hot seasons. In conditions where continuous growth occurs, an unbalance of pistillate or staminate flower production results in a higher number of female flowers. More number of female flowers can be grown by the plant if bee keeping is done along with. More female flowers give more number of seeds
top
Fruits:
curasFruits are produced in winter when the shrub is leafless, or it may produce several crops during the year if soil moisture is good and temperatures are sufficiently high. Each inflorescence yields a bunch of approximately 10 or more ovoid fruits. A three, bi-valved cocci is formed after the seeds mature and the fleshy exocarp dries.
top
Seeds:
seedsThe seeds become mature when the capsule changes from green to yellow, after two to four months from fertilization. The blackish, thin shelled seeds are oblong and resemble small castor seeds
 
top
Ecological Requirements

Jatropha curcas can grow almost anywhere – even on gravelly, sandy and saline soils. It can thrive on the poorest stony soil or grow in the crevices of rocks. The leaves shed during the winter months much from around the base of the plant. The organic matter from shed leaves enhances the activity of earth-worms in the soil around the root-zone of the plants, which improves the fertility of the soil. It requires little water and can stand long periods of drought by shedding most of its leaves to reduce transpiration loss. Jatropha curcas is can also help in preventing soil erosion and shifting of sand dunes.
Analysis of the Jatropha curcas seed shows the following chemical

Composition:

  • Moisture 6.20 %
  • Protein 18.00 %
  • Fat 38.00 %
  • Carbohydrates 17.00 %
  • Fiber 15.50 %
  • Ash 5.30 %

The oil content is 25–30% in the seeds and 50 – 60% in the kernel. The oil contains 21% saturated fatty acids and 79% unsaturated fatty acids. There are some chemical elements in the seed, Cursin, which are poisonous and make the oil unfit for human consumption.
 
top
 

Home : GOGVIP : Activities :Jatropha : Biodiesel :Gallery : Contact
Copyrights Reserved for GOVIND GRAMIN VIKAS PRATISHTHAN ( GOGVIP ), INDIA 2007-08