Essential Practices of Jatropha “Tree Crop” for Industrial Cultivation

Jatropha, the darling of the second-generation biofuels community, is now not a new Biofuel species. It is being cultivated in almost all the continents and a large number of countries, particularly in tropical nations. India, Malaysia, African nations and other Asian countries can greatly benefit from cultivation of biodiesel crops to meet their ever growing diesel requirements. There is a large interest of the private companies to venture into biodiesel industry.

Jatropha is an “energy species” that has to be domesticated as a “tree crop”. In order to have commercial perfection, it is crucial to understand the habit of the “crop” and its requirements; predict possible interactions with the environment; and develop packages of practices for industrial cultivation.

Critical Components of a Sound Biofuel Cropping System

• Selections of elites of Jatropha for higher productivity per plant and per hectare.

• Good nursery is basic to a healthy plantation. Proper techniques for nurturing saplings in nursery and developing commercial nurseries at least cost.

• Incidences of disease are alarming for a new biodiesel crop. Healthy practices not only increase productivity but bring about sustainability in environment.

• Objectives of good management (of plantation) include minimum irrigation and fertilizer inputs, least occurrence of disease and increased seed production. The practices will differ on the basis of soil conditions, site topography, availability of nutrients and other environmental factors particularly when the plantations are raised on degraded, abandoned or unproductive sites.

• Ensure plantation with least carbon footprints. The Workshop shall focus on “novel” practices for organic to near organic cultivation of Jatropha curcas so that its cultivation leads to carbon sequestration.

• Appropriate silvicultural practices that lead to increased productivity and ease of harvesting are basic to Jatropha curcas cultivation. The uniqueness of this “crop” is that there is an immense potential to enhance its productivity.

• Seed harvest, post harvest management, seed storage to optimize oil extraction, losses during storage and extraction are some of the features often ignored by farmers and plantation companies.

• Value addition holds the key to successful Jatropha curcas program. Extraction of oil will leave tons of seed cake, tons of fruit waste, the shrub yields a good dye, the plant has several metabolites that have pesticidal properties. Value addition by way of producing energy from waste of Jatropha curcas, utilization of these byproducts in the farm or for export shall enhance profits and make the “crop” attractive.

• A session will address issues on controversies such as: Does Jatropha compete with food?  Has Jatropha cultivation increased food prices? Is Jatropha toxic to soil and environment? Could Jatropha kill population and thus is a social risk? Is Jatropha a weed? Does Jatropha leave your soil unproductive and cause degradation? Is Jatropha economically feasible crop?

Send in your key agronomy and planting teams.

COURSE LEADER

Dr Hari M Behl
Coordinator Jatropha Network
Department of Biotechnology, Government of India
Consultant Biotechnology Park, India

Dr Behl was earlier senior scientist at the National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR), India. He was national Coordinator for other bioenergy crops such as Neem, Jojoba, Guayule, Euphorbias etc. He is a Senior Fulbright Fellow and was on faculty at University of California, Irvine, USA and Visiting Fellow at University of London and Kew Botanical gardens.

Dr Behl has extensive research experience on Biomass, Bioenergy, Biofertlizers, Biofuels and Biodiesel. He has supervised several students on topics related to biomass and bioenergy. He has more than 100 publications, 10 books and ten filed patents to his credit. He has developed commercial turnkey nurseries for international agencies. He has practical experience in plantation of Biofuel crops, including Jatropha curcas in a variety of soil types. He is on expert panels of several companies and organizations.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND
• Jatropha Oilseed Processors/Assessors • Biotechnology Researchers • Project/Plantation Managers • Agronomists • Geneticists • Scientists • Irrigation Support & Equipment Fertilisers including VP Technology, Commercial Managers, Agronomy Engineers, Head of Biofuels & Seeds, Contracting Manager, Operations & Plantations Manager, Professors & Researchers with Universities and Institutes, Project Managers with Department of Agriculture, Contract Farming Companies, Micro Finance Companies