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Jatropha (
Jatropha curcas) was once touted as the brand-new wunderkind plant for
biofuel. What is a
Jatropha curcas tree? The tree or bush grows in any kind of soil at a fast rate, is hazardous, and produces fuel suitable for diesel engines. Read on for more
Jatropha tree info and see how you rate this plant.
What is a
Jatropha Curcas Tree?
Jatropha is a seasonal shrub or tree. It is drought-resistant and easy to grow in tropical to semi-tropical locations. The plant lives for up to 50 years and might grow nearly 20 feet (6 m.) tall. It has a deep, thick taproot which makes it versatile to bad, dry soil. The leaves are oval, lobed, and deciduous. Overall, the plant is not especially aesthetically attractive, however it does get appealing green cymes of flowerets which become a tri-compartment fruit with large black seeds. These big black seeds are the reason for all the hullaballoo, since they are high in burnable oil. An intriguing piece of Jatropha tree information is that it is noted as a weed in Brazil, Fiji, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Salvador. This shows how versatile and durable the plant is even when
introduced to a new area.
Jatropha curcas cultivation can produce oil that is a good alternative to existing biofuels. Its usefulness has actually been challenged, but it holds true the plant can
produce seeds with an
oil material of 37%. Unfortunately, it is still a part of the food vs. fuel debate, as it needs land that could enter into food production. Scientists are attempting to develop a "incredibly
Jatropha" with bigger seeds and, for that reason, larger oil yields.
Jatropha Curcas Cultivation
Jatropha usages are rather restricted. Most parts of the plant are
harmful to consume due to the latex sap, however it is utilized as a medical. It is useful in dealing with snakebite, paralysis, dropsy, and obviously some
cancers. The plant may have come from Central to South America, however it has been introduced around the world and flourishes wild in locations like India, Africa, and Asia. Chief amongst
Jatropha uses is its possible as a
clean burning fuel to change nonrenewable fuel sources. Plantation growing in certain areas has actually been tried, however total
Jatropha curcas growing has been a miserable failure. This is due to the fact that the production mass of oil can not equate to the land use by cropping
Jatropha.
Jatropha Plant Care and Growth
The plant is easy to grow from cuttings or seed. Cuttings lead to faster maturity and quicker seed production. It prefers warm climates, however it can make it through a light frost. The deep taproot makes it drought-tolerant, although the finest growth will be accomplished with additional watering sometimes. It doesn't have any major illness or bug issues in its natural areas. It may be pruned, however flowers and fruit form on terminal development, so it is best to wait up until after flowering. No other Jatropha plant care is needed. This plant works as a hedge or living fence, or just as an ornamental stand-alone specimen.
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Bonnie Grant is an expert landscaper with an Accreditation in Urban Gardening. She has been gardening and composing for 15 years. A previous expert chef, she has a passion for edible landscaping.
