Commercial Jatropha - Cultivation and Use of Jatropha as Bio Fuel

Cultivation and Use of Jatropha as Bio Fuel

Usage of Jatropha

One of the greatest feats in the development of the alternative energy source of jatropha is the conversion of jatropha oil into a kind of biodiesel that can be an excellent alternative automotive fuel. In some countries, jatropha oil is also used as locomotive engine fuel.

This often proves beneficial for the country's foreign exchange capital. This is especially true for the countries relying on petroleum imports for automotive fuel. Inexpensive automotive fuel also facilitates the rapid expansion of the transport industries like railways.

For countries having a strong agricultural base, cultivating fuel can prove to be an excellent commercial venture that bridges the country's agricultural and fuel production sectors as one. Commercial Jatropha production and usage is consequently, rapidly spreading throughout the world.

Jatropha Production:

Owing to the research on the different varieties of jatropha seeds, some varieties are being designated as more oil-efficient varieties. Such varieties of jatropha, yielding a greater percentage of oil, are best suited for commercial cultivation.

An example of such a variety would be SDAUJ I - containing an oil percentage of 49.2% in the seeds.

Other Benefits of Commercial Jatropha Production:

Jatropha, despite the poisonous nature of its seeds and sap, has often been considered for its medicinal properties. Crucin, an alkaloid that is obtainable from jatropha, is effective in the treatment of cancer.

Consequence of Commercialization:

As the demand for jatropha has escalated, entrepreneurs engaging in jatropha production are also facing counter-currents in the tide of commercial jatropha production. As expected, the price(s) of the jatropha Seeds are also increasing, lowering the margin of profit by a minor percentage. This is one of the consequences that the commercial jatropha production has resulted in.

With the acknowledgement of jatropha as a widely accepted source for biofuel, hundreds of cultivators are switching over to commercial jatropha production as their primary harvest. Jatropha oil, the extract from jatropha Seeds that is also the primary ingredient for the production of the biofuel end products, is normally obtained at a high rate of yield, making such commercial ventures in jatropha production lucrative as well as profitable.

Advantages of Jatropha

There are a number of crops that can be utilized in the production of biofuel. The question that naturally arises, therefore, is why jatropha should be the choice for cultivators. The obvious assumption in any speculation regarding this matter would be that cultivating and processing jatropha is more advantageous than the cultivation and processing of other similar crops.

Commercial agricultural ventures are most favored when the output (harvest) yields a considerable margin of profit over the investments made in the processes of cultivation and final procurement. In fact, this is true especially for jatropha. Commercial jatropha cultivation can have a number of advantages, which in turn are defined by the following factors:

Jatropha is easily cultivable. It thrives in a wide range of climatic conditions including heat and humidity. It thrives well in most varieties of soils. Hence, it can be cultivated almost anywhere.
Most varieties of jatropha seeds have been more or less inexpensive (until recently).
The percentage yield of oil and the extractable percentage from the harvested seeds are high.
Jatropha can provide a higher rate of output than many crops. For example, one acre of jatropha cultivation can yield a larger output in terms of oil than one acre of soy cultivation.
Jatropha plants are easily maintained, even at the seedling stage.

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