Jatropha – Bio Energy Crop

Jatropha is the plant with many potential benefits. As the nonrenewable fuel sources are decreasing rapidly and the co2 emission emitted from it contaminates the atmosphere, the world is working towards an alternative fuel to overcome it.

The Jatropha curcas is the plant which can grow in semi arid area, little care suffices for its growth. It grows both in topical and sub tropical area. The jatropha seed contains 35 percent oil material in it. The oil from jatropha curcas can be used as biodiesel blend up to 20% without refining. The oil burns with clear smoke-free flame, and was evaluated successfully as a fuel for basic diesel engine. It is not a food crop since the oil is non-edible. The oil is used as a conventional medicine disinfectant and to cure diseases like cancer, piles, snakebite, paralysis dropsy etc. The seed oil is likewise used for lighting and in soap preparation. It is seldom utilized as a in preventing crops from animals and it periodically used as residential or commercial property demarcation. It lowers the soil erosion.

The optimal growing conditions for the Jatropha plant ranges from 1000 to1500 mm annual rains, with temperatures of 20 to 28 C. The soil should be free draining without any water logging. But adequate water and nutrition is a must for high yield. The jatropha is simple to grow and it can bear the seeds within a year of planting. It supplies oxygen for the world and it can grow even in poor soil. It can not stand up to frost.

The Jatropha Electrification is developing in lots of countries. Mali is considered to be among the poorest nations worldwide. At Mali, Garalo jatropha curcas Producers’ Cooperative (CPP) and the power business ACCESS are the primary institutions establishing jatropha curcas cultivation. The personal power company ACCESS is creates and does electrical energy sales. Currently 247 homes are connected to the micro grid after a payment of $30 as a contribution to the connection costs. Likewise in India, the Rural Electricity Supply Technology (REST) mission of the Ministry of Power (MOP) preparation to produce power for all by 2012. The little scale power generation projects were developed in Chattisgarh, India. It is being run by Winrock International in the Kabir Dham district. This little power system supplies 24-hour power supply at the extremely economical rate of 50 cents per light bulb to poor villagers. It is 17.5 KW capacity power plant operates on raw jatropha seed oil.jatropha curcas is an appealing crop for rural advancement. The jatropha oil lights up rural areas with electrical power. The jatropha planting on the wastelands has the capability to offer 50-60% of the India’s fuel requirements.

The Jatropha curcas plantation in 1 hectare reduces 20 lots of co2 annually. The biggest jatropha producing nation in Asia will be Indonesia and India. In Africa, Ghana and Madagascar will be the largest manufacturers. Brazil will be the largest manufacturer in Latin America. The plantation is a labor extensive process hence it creates task for many poor rural individuals. Above all Jatropha can be used as a Renewable resource.