Jatropha Yield

Cultivating Jatropha - Advantages

There are numerous advantages in cultivating jatropha as an alternative source of fuel. For example, cultivation and maintenance for this particular crop is relatively less troublesome when compared to other crops of its kind. The content of oil that is yielded is also quite high, the oil content in the jatropha seeds being around 40%, 91% of which can be procured if efficient methods like cold-pressing are employed.

Moreover, one of the apprehensions regarding the cultivation of this plant resulted from its poisonous nature. The risk for losses in livestock is minimized, since cattle do not ingest this plant. Besides, the seeds are also inexpensive, making these ventures cost-efficient.

Jatropha yield varies depending on the variety (species) of the plant that is used for cultivation. The extract from its seeds, jatropha oil, is processed to obtain biofuel and biodiesel.

Cultivated Species of Jatropha

The seeds of Jatropha curcas are generally used for the procurement of the oil. The yields can vary not only according to the species, but also according to individual specimens. The variable nature of the genetic constitutions of the same species of the plant can result in the latter kind of variation. Research is still being performed to optimize production.

For countries where the economy is based on agriculture and fossil fuel resources need to be imported, biofuels can be an excellent alternative source of energy. This is a radical transition in the field of fuel production - a transition from mining to harvesting.

Factors Influencing Jatropha Yield

The yield of oil can be influenced by several factors:

1. Soil: Sandy soils with ample drainage are ideal for a high jatropha yield. The condition of the ground water is an important factor as well. Irrigated soil seems to provide the best yield in terms of efficiency.
   
   
2. Organic fertilizers can improve the yield in soils of poor quality. Magnesium, calcium, potassium, nitrogen and sulfur are essential.
   
   
3. Rainfall is an important factor when it comes to the yield. The optimum range is believed to be between 500mm and 600mm.

1. Climate does not appear to be an important factor, considering the fact that this plant can survive in a wide range of temperatures. However, warmer climates appear to result in better yields.
   
   
2. Processing has been reported to be an important factor affecting the oil yield. The yield is apparently better when the seeds are not exposed to direct sunlight.

A combination of all these conditions, along with consideration of the plant’s genetic constitution, influences the yields. A number of establishments of biochemical and genetic research are striving to arrive at precise conclusions regarding this matter. However, since a lot of research remains to be carried out in this domain, our knowledge of how to improve the jatropha yield is still quite limited.

In spite of the fact that the jatropha yield can vary considerably according to such factors, it is possible to estimate optimum figures for the yield of oil. The quantity of oil extracted per hectare can be as high as 2.7 tons. It is estimated that per hectare, around 8 kilograms of seeds need to be sowed. The harvest from this degree of sowing can be as considerable as 78 tons.