JATROPHA CULTIVATION IN INDIA

Wednesday, 18 March 2015

INTRODUCTION

Jatropha belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae. It is a multipurpose shrub or small tree of significant importance because of its several industrial and medicinal uses. The word Jatropha is derived from two Greek words 'Jatros' meaning a 'Doctor' and 'Trophe' meaning nutrition. It grows in a number of climatic zones in tropical and subtropical regions and can be grown in areas of low rainfall and problematic soil. Jatropha oil is a potential source of biofuel in countries where the resources to import fossil fuel is poor. It can serve as a panacea for energy shortages in the future. Jatropha is otherwise known as Kattamanakku. In India it is found almost in all states and is generally grown as a live fence for protection of agricultural fields against damage by livestock as unpalatable to cattle and goats. So, there is no need to protect it from livestock during farming. It is a small evergreen or soft wooden shrub, 3 to 4 meters high. It can be cultivated in all the tropical & sub-tropical regions.

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What is jatropha

Benefits of Jatropha seed cake as organic fertilizer include increased soil organic matter content and improved water-holding capacity of the soil. It improves the physical structure of the soil thus allowing more air to get to the plant roots. Beneficial bacterial and fungal activity increases in the soil; mycorrhizal fungi which make other nutrients more available to plants thrive in soil where the organic matter content is high.
This fertilizer leaches from the soil very slowly thereby making it less likely to contribute to water pollution than synthetic fertilizers; this slow release factor means that the supply of nutrients to plant roots is also more sustained.
The great things about Jatropha are:
It's an oil seed tree.
It produces very high quality green oil. biofuel/biodiesel.
It flourishes best on land that is unsuitable for food production.
Propagate rapidly (play).
Is highly resistant to drought and poor soil conditions.

Why Jatropha?
• Jatropha farming business give you a sure profit in 25 years.
• Jatropha curcas is a drought-resistant perennial, growing well in marginal of poor soil.
• It is easy to establish, grow relatively quickly and lives, producing seeds for 25 years
• Jatropha, the wonder plant, produces seeds with an oil content of 37 %.
• The oil can be combusted as fuel without being refined.
• It burns with clear smoke-free flame, tested successfully as fuel for simple diesel engine.
• The by-products are press cake a good organic fertilizer, oil contains also insecticide.
• Jatropha curcas grows on a wide range of climates and soils.
• Jatropha plant can be established on degraded, gravely, sandy, or loamy soil with adequate nutrient content.

Most importantly:
• Increase local employment
• Help the local economy to grow
• Jatropha can help to increase rural incomes, self-sustainability and alleviate poverty for women, elderly, children and men, tribal communities and small farmers

Seed source for raising nursery

The Jatropha plant once planted in the field, starts fruiting after 2 years and continues upto 30-40 years. Therefore, the freshly harvested seeds from the identified quality planting material having desirable characteristics like high seed yield, high oil content in seed, synchronized maturity, resistant to insect, pests and diseases etc. should always be used for raising of nursery. The quality parent material (seeds & seedlings) should be obtained from the most reliable sources like State Departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, Forests etc., State Agricultural Universities, R&D institutions of Indian council of agricultural research (ICAR), Council of Scientific and Industrial research (CSIR), Indian council of Forest Research and Education (ICFRE), registered nurseries etc. The NOVOD Board has raised model plantation of Jatropha in 10,083 ha. area in the following states, which will serve as basic parental material:

Raising of quality nursery

Seedlings are raised in the flat seed beds or in poly bags of half kg. capacity filled with mixture of soil and FYM in the ratio of 4:1. Two seeds are sown in each poly bags at a depth of 1.5-2.0 cm and watered regularly. The seeds germinate after a week. When the seedlings are around 4 weeks older, the weaker of two seedlings can be removed and used for gap filling. The plants can also be raised easily through cutting February-March, is the best time for sowing of nursery and July-August (rainy season) is the best time for transplanting seedlings in the field.

By seeds

seeds Fully matured seeds should be selected for sowing. Pre-soaking in water for 24 hrs is advised. Another way is to soak seeds is cow-dung slurry for 12 hrs before sowing. Soaked seeds are generally sown in poly bags of 10 x20 cm size filled with soil, sand and FYM (Farm yard manure) in the ratio of 1:2:1 respectively. Germination is generally noticed after 4-5 days and continues up to 15 days. If the seedlings are to be retained by 5-6 months before transplantation, then bigger poly bags (15x25 cm) should be taken.

Bold & disease free seeds from fresh collections are to be used for obtaining better germination percentage and Growth performance. Low Germination percentages and high mortality rates were found if the seeds from previous years are used.

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Sowing in nursery beds

Raised beds (10 cm high) are prepared by digging and mixing soil with sand and FYM in 1:1:1 ratio. Each bed is prepared having 1 m x 5 m dimensions. Shallow furrows of 2 cm depth are made by finger or using a stick. Soaked seeds are placed in furrows at an interval of 5 cm. and covered with a thin layer of soil. Care is taken to avoid deep sowing. Light Irrigations are given after seed germination and bare rooted seedlings are transplanted after 3-4 months in the field during the rainy season.

By stem cutting

Jatropha responds well for vegetative propagation. Propagation through branch cuttings is not new and farmers know these technique. In fact, 90% Jatropha spread throughout the country for ‘live fence’ was by branch cuttings only. Cuttings planted during monsoon immediately after Ist showers give better root initiation, high survival rate and good growth performance.

i. Superior Jatropha tray/ genotypes are selected on the basis of their high seed yield and oil content. ii. From the selected tree, collect the branches having 2-3 cm diameter, put them in a bucket of water. iii. Cut them into 15-20 cm long pieces with a knife or a mini hand-saw.
iv. Dip the cuttings into a tuve rooting hormone mixture (may be commercial seradix or growth harmones like IBA or NAA of 100 ppm concentration.
v. Put the cuttings in a poly bagged rooting media (Soil + Sand in 1:1) by inserting the basal region (about 3 cm).
vi. Place the poly bags inside a closed polythene chamber or mist chamber to avoid the drying of cuttings. Allow the cuttings inside the chamber for a period of 2-3 weeks.

Rooting can be seen through the transparent polybags in about 3 weeks of time. Rooting response is always better in harmone treated cuttings than in untreated cuttings. After removing from polychamber, the clones (vegetative propagules) are to be kept out side under partial shade for 2 weeks before transferring them to the field for transplanting. Using polythene chamber or mist chamber is advantageous because the plants do not lose more water through evapo-transpiration due to checking of wind velocity, the cuttings are kept always moistened thus not allowing them to become dry and ensures easy and profuse rooting.

The cuttings are planted in the month of February-March to get best sprouting and survival. Experience gained suggests heavy mortality in cuttings if planted during rainy season.

Plantation practices

The disease free and bold seedlings of Jatropha are transplanted in rows at a spacing of 3x2 meter under irrigated condition accommodating 1666 plants/ha. On rainfed wasteland high density planting at 2 m x 2 m accommodating 2500 plants/ ha. is recommended.

Transplanting

Four weeks healthy seedlings should be planted in the pit at required depth. Eight to ten week old seedlings are to be planted in 30 cm x 30 cm pits dug in the field at required spacing and filled with a mixture of soil, FYM (2-3 kg.) and fertilizer (20 gm urea, 120 g single super phosphate and 16 g murate of potash).

Care after plantation

One irrigation is applied immediately after plantation, however, during dry period only life saving irrigations should be applied to the plants as and when required. Usually from second year onwards irrigation is not required unless soils are shallow and sandy. Two irrigations in a year if applied at both the flowering period stages will enhance the yield.

Cultivation scope

Due to potential demand and better marketing opportunities, cultivation of Jatropha appears viable. The crop is suitable particularly for garden land situations yet less productive, no irrigation facilities. Besides the crop must not replace other important food crops and in turn will not have a major impact on cropping pattern.

Jatropha adapts well to marginal lands as well as live fence, as farm animals do not browse it. All parts of the shrub are used in traditional medicine and as raw material for pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. The use of Jatropha oil in the production of soap in rural areas gives direct benefit, where as indirectly this will help to save edible vegetable oil. The large scale cultivation of Jatropha curcas on wastelands with poor soils and low rainfall in drought prone areas could provide regular employment and could improve their living conditions by providing additional income. Use of bio-diesel at thevillage level for operating oil engines for pumping water and operating small machinery are another good opportunity, which will be a boon to the farmers. Jatropha is not an alternative to agriculture or plantation but it is an addition to it.

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Scope of Jobs for all

Jatropha is economically viable not only to the growers but also to the processors and end users. To the rural society, the crop can create regular employment opportunities, as it provides never ending marketing potential
The crop can easily be raised without any difficulty; the rural women can be engaged in all kinds of activities like raising seedlings, collection of seeds, de-shelling etc. This will be a great boon to the development and enhancement of the quality of life of the rural women.

Distribution

Jatropha curcas is a tropical shrub native to Mexico and Central America, but is widely distributed in wild or semi cultivated stands in Latin America, Africa, India and SouthEast Asia. In India, Portuguese Navigators introduced it in the 16th century. It occurs in almost all parts of India including Andaman Island and generally grown as live fence. The tree is well adapted to arid conditions. It is suitable for sand dune stabilization and soil conservation areas

Botanical description of Jatropha curcas

Jatropha derived from the Greek word ‘Jatros’means’Doctor’ and ‘trophe’ means ‘Nutrition’. Botanically this is known as Jatropha curcas L. and belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae. It is a multipurpose shrub and is found throughout the tropics and is known by nearly 200 different names, indicating its occurrence in various countries. Common vernacular names of Jatropha curcas in India are Ratanjyot, Safed arand, Physic nut, Purging nut, Chandrajyot etc. Jatropha is a deciduous large shrub or small tree 3-5 m in height with smooth gray bark, which exudes watery and sticky latex, when cut. The cut branches sprout readily and grow rapidly which makes it suitable for fencing.

The genus is cosmopolitan in distribution except in the arctic region; they are distributed in the tropical and sub-tropical Himalayas, the mountains of Western and Eastern Ghats and plains of South India.

The leaves simple, angular, deeply palmately 3-5 lobed with long petiole. Ciliate glands usually represent the stipules. The venation is palmate. The leaves are green to pale green broad and glabrous. Phyllotaxy is spiral.

Tuesday, 17 March 2015

Flower and seed setting

Flowers unisexual, monoeceious, greenish yellow in terminal long, peduncled paniculate cymes. The central flowers in the cyme or in its forks usually female. Male flowers- Calyx segments 5, nearly equal, elliptic or obvate; Corolla Campanulate, labes 5, connate, hairy inside, exceeding the calyx, each lobe bear inside a gland at the base, stamens 10 in two series, outer five filaments free, inner five filaments connate, anthers dithecous erect, opening by longitudinal slit. Female flowers- Calyx as in male, corolla
scarcely exceeding the calyx lobes united, villous inside, carpets connate into a 3-celled ovary, styles 3 connate at base, stigma bifid, ovules solitary in each cell. Pollinationis by insect.

After pollination fruit is usually a three chambered and schizocarpic capsule splitting into three one-seeded cocci. The exocarp remains fleshy until the seeds mature. It may produce more than one crop during a year, or produce continuous flowering and fruiting under irrigated conditions if soil moisture and temperatures are good. Each inflorescence yields a bunch of ovoid fruits. The seeds lbumeneous, tesla crustaceous. It is a diploid species with 2n=22 chromosomes.

Seeds resemble castor in seed shape, ovoid oblong and black in colour. The seeds become mature when the capsule changes from green to yellow, after two months of fruit setting. The nut is a violent purgative. Each fruit bears three seeds. The seeds contain 25-35 % oil. The oil can be used in soap manufacture.

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Soil and climate

It is a tropical species and grows well in subtropical conditions. It can tolerate extremes of temperature but not the frost and water stagnation.. It grows almost everywhere- even on gravely, sandy, acidic and alkaline soils having pH ranging from 5.5 to 8.5. It can thrive in poorest stony soils. It grows even in the cracks and crevices of rocks on all types of soil except one subjected to water inundation. If the rising water table engulf the major root system and continues for a considerable period plant will die. The plant is undemanding in soil type and even does not require tillage.

Variety

There is no recommended variety for this region yet. However, the variety grown in NE region is also found productive. The female: male ratio of flower which indicative of productivity is observed to be 1:12 compared to 1:16 to 1: 20 found in other states. Fruit setting in NE region is nearly 90-95 %. The occurrence of fungal diseases due to high humidity and high soil moisture, the newly introduced materials from drier belts are difficult to establish. However, high yielding types developed elsewhere are also ideal for cultivation. The plantation can be started with locally available one.

Propagation

Jatropha is usually propagated on mass scale both by seed as well as stem cuttings. For commercial cultivation normally it is propagated by seeds. Well-developed plumpy seeds are selected for sowing. Before sowing, seeds are soaked in cowdung solution for 12 hours and kept under the wet gunny bags for 12 hours. Hot and humid weather is preferred for good germination of seed. Germinated seeds are sown in poly bags of 15 x 25 cm size filled with soil, sand and farm yard manure in the ratio of 1:1:1 respectively. Seeds or cuttings can be directly planted in main field. But pre-rooted cuttings in poly bags and then transplanted in the main field give better results.

Planting in field

The land should be ploughed once or twice depending upon the nature of soil. In direct planting system the seed/cuttings should be planted in the main field with onset of monsoon as a spacing of 3m x 2m. In hilly areas where ploughing is not possible, after clearing jungles, pits of size 30 cm x 30 cm x 30 cm is dug at required spacing, refilled with top soil and organic manures (500 g FYM + 100 g Neem cake or Jatropha oil cake + 100 g super phosphate) and then planted. Smaller spacing would be preferred if growing the plant as a hedgerow, for a fence, or for soil conserving purposes. Actual spacing will be determined based on end-use, soil quality / condition, humidity, rainfall, intercropping, etc. On the side slope of embankment 2m x 2m is advisable.

Aftercare

Two to three weeding are necessary; it does not require supplementary irrigation if planted in onset of rain. Jatropha is deciduous in nature and the fallen leaves during winter months form mulch around the base of the plant. The organic matter from fallen leaves enhances earthworm activity in the soil around the root zone of the plants, which improves the fertility of the soil. Light harrowing is beneficial during early growth stage. Pinching the terminal is essential at six months age to induce laterals. Application of GA @ 100-PPM spray induces early flowering and capsule development.

Canopy management (Pruning and trimming)

To give a bushy shape the plant should be trimmed during spring (Feb-March) upto 5 years including one pruning when the plants attains 1.5 m height. The terminal-growing twig is to be pinched to induce secondary branches. Likewise the secondary and tertiary branches are to be pinched or pruned at the end of first year to induce a minimum of 25 branches at the end of second year. Once in ten years, the plant may be cut leaving onefoot height from ground level for rejuvenation. The growth is quick and the plant will start yielding in about a year period. This will be useful to induce new growth and yield stabilization there on.

Manuring

At the time of planting compost @ 2 kg /pit should be applied. Afterwards depending on soil type manuring @ 3-5 kg/plant along with and NPK should be applied near the crown following ring method before monsoon. In general application of super phosphate @ 150kg/ha and alternate with one dose of 20 : 120 : 60 kg NPK/year from second year improves yield. From 4rth year onwards 150 kg super phosphate should be added to the above dose.

Inter-cropping with Jatropha

The inter-cropping during initial years of plantation i.e. upto gestation period is suggested to increase income per unit area. The crops being utilized for inter-cropping should have following characteristic:-

· Annual crops having no competition in nutrient uptake, height, shade etc.
· Leguminous in nature to increase soil fertility
· Require less spacing, irrigation etc.
· Shade loving
· Having high economic value

Keeping in view of above, the following crops should be selected for inter-cropping:-

1. Pulse & oilseeds crops: Moong, Urd, Gram, Pea, Lentil, Cowpea, Sesamum, Soybean, Rapeseed & Mustard, Linseed etc
2. Vegetable crops: Ginger, Potato, Sweet potato, Carrot, Bitter guard, Tomato, Cucumber, Chilly, Cucurbits etc.
3. Medicinal & aromatic crops: Mentha, Ashwagandha, Kalmegh, Sarpgandha, Isabgol, Satavar etc.

Diseases

Plant protection
Jatropha plants are less prone to attack by diseases and insects. Following few common diseases and insects are to be checked from time to time for better seed yields:

(A) Diseases

S No.		Name of disease	Causal organism		Control
1		D a m p i n g off	Phytopthera pithium		Spray of Keptan 50% @ 0.2%
2		Collar rot	Myerophomina phaseolina		Drenching of 1% Baurdeax mixture
3		Root rot	Fusarium moniliforme		Spray of thiram @ 0.2%
4		Leaf spot	Helminthosporium utramera		Spray of Blitox @ 0.2%
(B) Insects
1	Leaf minor			Spray of 1.5 ml/litre of water of metasystox 25 CC
2	Blue Bug			Spray of phosphomedin/ Dimethoate @ 2.0 ml/3 lt. of water
3	Green bug			Spray of 2 ml/3 lt. water of phosphomedin

Harvesting

The flowering is induced in rainy season and bears fruits and matures in winter. Pods are collected when they are turned yellowish and after drying seeds are separated mechanically or manually. Flowering is less and delayed when grown in shady conditions. In sunny condition flowering is more and early (July – September). Seedlings produce flowers 9 months after sowing. However, plants established through cuttings produce flowers from 6 months onwards. But economic yield starts from 3rd year-end. The dried pods are collected and seeds are separated either manually or mechanically. Seeds are dried for 4-5 days to reduce moisture level 10% before packing.

Economic life

The economic life of Jatropha is 35-40 years. The plant survives upto 50 years if root zone does not come in contact with rising water table and continues for longer time

Yield

There will be about 1675 plants /ha at 3m x 2m spacing. Grown up Jatropha from 6th year onwards yield 3-6 kg per plant under good management. The average productivity can be projected as follows:

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