What do you know of jatropha plantation?

Question

What do you know of jatropha plantation?

Answer 1

Jatropha Curcas is an excellent bio fuel crop which has many other advantages over existing crops.

Jatropha is perennial which can grow in arid conditions (even deserts), on any kind of ground, and does not require irrigation or suffer in droughts. Therefore unlike the common biofuel crops of today (corn and sugar), they are very easy to cultivate even on poor land in Africa providing great social and economic benefits for that region.

Jatropha is fast growing and it begins yielding oil in the second year and for the next forty to fifty years. Optimal yields are obtained from the sixth year, and spaced at 2 metre intervals, around 2500 plants can be cultivated per hectare. Jatropha absorbs large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and therefore earns carbon credits.

For scientific classification:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jatropha

Interesting facts:

- Jatropha grows well on low fertility soils however increased yields can be obtained using a fertilizer containing small amounts of magnesium, sulphur, and calcium.

- Jatropha can be intercropped with many cash crops such as coffee, sugar, fruits and vegetables with the Jatropha offering both fertilizer and protection against livestock.

- Jatropha needs at least 600mm of rain annually to thrive however it can survive three years of drought by dropping its leaves.

- Jatropha is excellent at preventing soil erosion, and the leaves it drops act as a wonderful soil enriching mulch.

- Jatropha prefers alkaline soils.

For more info:

http://www.reuk.co.uk/Jatropha-for-Biodi...

Answer 2

Jatropha is a plant grown in INDIA the leaves of that plant gives oil which can be used in cars intead of gasoline and it is eco friendly.