Jatropha Curcas<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
Jatropha Curcas is a non edible oil crop predominately used to produce bio-diesel. <o:p></o:p>
In addition to bio-diesel production, the by-product of Jatropha Curcas' trans-esterification process can be used to make a wide range of products including high quality paper, energy pellets, soap, cosmetics, toothpaste, embalming fluid, pipe joint cement, cough medicine and as a moistening agent in tobacco.<o:p></o:p>
The Jatropha Curcas seed cake which is the waste by-product of the bio-diesel trans-esterification process can be used as a rich organic fertilizer.<o:p></o:p>
Jatropha Curcas grows best on well drained soils (pref PH 6-9) with good aeration but is well adapted to marginal soils with low nutrient content.<o:p></o:p>
Jatropha Curcas grows well with more than 600mm rainfall per year and it can withstand long periods of drought. The plant sheds its leaves during a prolonged dry season.<o:p></o:p>
Jatropha Curcas prefers temperatures averaging 20-28 degrees Celsius (68-85 degrees Farenheit). It can, however, withstand a very light frost which causes it to lose all its leaves and may produce a sharp decline in seed yield.<o:p></o:p>
One tonne of Jatropha Curcas seeds will produce up to 600 litres of bio-diesel with proper management.<o:p></o:p>
Recommended planting rate of Jatropha Curcas is 3,030 plants per hectare (2.5 acres)<o:p></o:p>
Mechanical harvesting and simultaneous pruning is now available for this crop.<o:p></o:p>
Jatropha Curcas seeds can produce 60% oil content depending on:<o:p></o:p>
Production capacity (genetics) of the plants<o:p></o:p>
Application of advanced pruning techniques<o:p></o:p>
Improved pollination results from establishment of bee colonies<o:p></o:p>
The moisture level of the soil<o:p></o:p>
The nutrient level of the soil<o:p></o:p>
Application of foliar fertilizer 30 days before harvest<o:p></o:p>
Stage of ripening at harvest<o:p></o:p>
Use of high quality processing equipment<o:p></o:p>
Proccessing completed within 24 hours of harvest<o:p></o:p>
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Jatropha Curcas Seeds<o:p></o:p>
Our Superior high yielding Jatropha Curcas seeds will:<o:p></o:p>
Reach first harvest after 8 months with full production in their 5th year<o:p></o:p>
Have a life-span of 60 years, while producing seed for up to 50 years<o:p></o:p>
Be freshly harvested and professionally packed & shipped<o:p></o:p>
Exceed guaranteed 90% germination rate<o:p></o:p>
Produce fruit with high oil content (60%) - with proper management<o:p></o:p>
Have selected genetics from plants that have produced over 10 Tonnes of Oil per Hectare, per Year. (10 - 15kgs per tree at maturity)<o:p></o:p>
Seed production of our high yielding Jatropha Curcas seeds<o:p></o:p>
With correct management, soil and plant nutrition along with adequate moisture our seeds will <o:p></o:p>
achieve the following yields planted at 3,030 plants/Ha<o:p></o:p>
1st year oil yield/Ha 4.5 tonnes<o:p></o:p>
2nd year oil yield/Ha 9.0 tonnes<o:p></o:p>
3rd year oil yield/Ha 13.5 tonnes<o:p></o:p>
4th+ year oil yield/Ha 15.0 tonnes<o:p></o:p>
Jatropha Curcas Propogation and Cultivation<o:p></o:p>
The advantage of Jatropha Curcas seeds over Jatropha curcas cuttings<o:p></o:p>
Jatropha Curcas grows readily from seeds or cuttings. However trees propagated from cuttings have a shorter productive lifespan and lower drought/disease resistance than plants propagated from seed.<o:p></o:p>
Also, Jatropha Curcas trees produced from cuttings do not produce true taproots. Instead, they produce pseudo-taproots (surface roots) that may penetrate much less than half the depth of soil as taproots produced on trees grown from seed.<o:p></o:p>
Achieving Outstanding Jatropha Curcas production<o:p></o:p>
Jatropha curcas plants inoculated with MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI adapted to the prevailing soils will help young seedlings grow faster and with a balanced nutrient uptake with less fertilizer inputs in the nursery phase. This will mean the plants will be more likely to survive stressful environmental conditions and give higher yields. This is because the Fungi increase the volume of soil from which nutrients can be gathered by a factor of 700 improving drought tolerance and minimising the time to outplanting. The uptake of other nutrients (N, P, NA, Zn, S and Cu) essential for plant growth is also facilitated by mycorrhizal fungi, and it has the ability to access and take up normally unavailable forms of Phosphates for plant uptake.<o:p></o:p>
Selecting Optimum Location For A Jatropha Plantation<o:p></o:p>
CLIMATE<o:p></o:p>
Ideal temperature range is 20-40 degrees C, however temperatures down to 10 degrees and up to 50 degrees are acceptable.<o:p></o:p>
We do not recommend planting in areas with a history of frost.<o:p></o:p>
Ideal rainfall is over 1,000-1500 mm/yr however 600-3,000mm/yr is acceptable.<o:p></o:p>
Ideal dry months not exceed 4 months but up to 7months without rain is acceptable.<o:p></o:p>
LAND<o:p></o:p>
Ideally large expanse of land with minimum interruption by creeks/rivers/gorges/mountains. Some interruption is acceptable<o:p></o:p>
TOPOGRAPHY<o:p></o:p>
Ideally gently sloping terrain. However level to undulating is acceptable.<o:p></o:p>
ALTITUDE<o:p></o:p>
Ideal Altitude is 50-300m above sea level. however 10-600m is acceptable.<o:p></o:p>
SOIL TYPE<o:p></o:p>
Soil PH 6-9<o:p></o:p>
Very well drained sandy loam is ideal. Very sandy to heavier soils are acceptable. good drainage is essential.<o:p></o:p>
Land cannot have water pooling for more than four days or the plants can die.<o:p></o:p>
WIND<o:p></o:p>
Ideally a location with protection from heavy winds, some wind is acceptable but if it is excessive it can have a detrimental effect on pollination by pollinators such as insects and bees.<o:p></o:p>
ACCESS<o:p></o:p>
Ideal location will have close access to a good port for importing fertiliser and exporting oil, however good land with quality road access to port is acceptable.<o:p></o:p>
Port access is less important if Jatropha oil is used locally for biodiesel or Power generation.<o:p></o:p>
WATER SUPPLY<o:p></o:p>
Adequate supply of water for power generation/ processing plant/drinking<o:p></o:p>
EMPLOYMENT<o:p></o:p>
Job creation will be in the order of 2,000 people for 10,000Ha of Plantation. Proximity to Labour, water, power and transport is necessary.<o:p></o:p>
FINAL INSPECTION<o:p></o:p>
Obviously inspection will be necessary for final assessment and acceptability.
