Introduction to Jatropha & Its Advantages

Jatropha

It is a perenial shrub suited to tropical and sub-tropical climates with 50 years life span. Jatropha starts bearing seeds after 2 years of planting. Seeds (with shell) have an oil content of 32% - 35%. About 3 Kgs of seeds give 1 Kg of oil. 1.05 Kg of oil is required to produce 1 Kg of biodiesel. Biodiesel produced from Jatropha oil can be blended upto 20% with petro diesel without modifying the engine. The oil companies have agreed to buy all the biodiesel produced in the country @ Indian Rs. 25.00 per litre at 20 locations in India.

Advantages of Jatropha

• Easy to establish, grows quickly, hardy and requires minimum care
• It grows in flood-free wasteland. In fertile land it gives higher yields
• Plantation of Jatropha in rural areas helps in:
  Employment generation
  Sources of alternate energy
  Increased earnings
• Plantations are long term and the plants have multiple uses
• Reclamation of wasteland and degraded land
• Suitable for preventing soil erosion including jhum fallows
• It is not a competitor to any crop; rather, it increases yield
• The micorrhizal value in Jatropha roots helps in getting phosphates from soil – a boon for acidic soil
• Improves soil fertility by fallen leaves throughout their life cycle
• Possesses medicinal as well as other multiple uses
• Generates net income for 30-35 years @ Indian Rs.10,000/acre/year approx. from 4th year onwards

Soil & Climate

• A tropical species – grows well in subtropical conditions
• It grows almost everywhere except waterlogged conditions and flood prone areas
• If the rising water table engulfs the major root system and continues for a considerable period, the plant is likely to die

Variety

• No recommended variety as yet for the north east region of India. However, the variety grown in NE India is found to be productive
• Female:male ratio of flower, which is indicative of productivity, is 1:12 compared to 1:16 to 1:20 in other states of India

Jatropha Planting Practices

Propagation: Propagated in mass scale both by seeds as well as stem
cutting

Seed rate: 2 – 2.5 kg seeds required per acre.

Planting: Spacing 3m x 2m.

Aftercare: 2 – 3 weedings are necessary.

Pruning: To give a bushy shape, plant should be trimmed during spring
(February-March upto 5 years). After that, plant should be
pruned back above ground level once in 10 years.

Manuring: While planting, compost @ 2 kg/ft. should be applied.
Depending on soil type NPK should be applied
near the crown following ring method.

Intercropping: Some shade-loving plants like Roulfia serpentina, Asparagus
racemosus, Kaemferia galanga, Homalomena aromatica,
Smilex china , etc. can profitably be grown under Jatropha.
Vanilla can also be cultivated under it successfully.

Economic Life & Yields

Economic life: The plant survives upto 50 years if root zone does not come in contact with rising water table and continues for longer time.
Normally, the economic life is considered to be 35-40 years.

Yield: Fruiting starts from 2nd year but commercial harvest is obtained from 3rd year only. Average seed yield of well grown Jatropha are as follows :

Year of Planting	Per Plant Yield Kgs	Per Acre Yield Kgs
2nd Yr - 3rd Yr	0.5 - 1.0	400
4th Yr	1.5 - 2.5	1500
5th Yr - 10th Yr	2.5 - 5.0	2600

The economics of plantation for the North Eastern Region of India will be shortly added.

How to Increase Profitability

Productivity & Profitability can be increased by

• Pruning main stem upon 1.5m growth for profuse branching and higher seed yield
• Foliar spraying with growth promoters for higher yield of seeds and oil
• Ensuring maximum exposure to sunlight for enhancing seed yield

Note: Jatropha should not be taken as highly profitable cash crop if the value of byproducts and other advantages are not considered.