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Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) was as soon as touted as the brand-new wunderkind plant for biofuel. What is a Jatropha curcas tree? The tree or bush grows in any type of soil at a fast rate, is harmful, and produces fuel suitable for diesel motor. Keep reading for more Jatropha tree info and see how you rate this plant.

What is a Jatropha Curcas Tree?

jatropha curcas is a perennial shrub or tree. It is drought-resistant and easy to grow in tropical to semi-tropical places. The plant lives for as much as 50 years and may grow nearly 20 feet (6 m.) tall. It has a deep, thick taproot which makes it adaptable to poor, dry soil. The leaves are oval, lobed, and deciduous. Overall, the plant is not particularly visually enticing, but it does get attractive 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, because they are high in burnable oil. A fascinating 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 sturdy the plant is even when introduced to a new area. Jatropha curcas cultivation can produce oil that is a good alternative to current biofuels. Its effectiveness has been challenged, however 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 dispute, as it requires land that might enter into food production. Scientists are trying to establish a "very Jatropha" with bigger seeds and, therefore, larger oil yields.

Jatropha Curcas Cultivation

Jatropha uses are rather limited. Most parts of the plant are poisonous to eat due to the latex sap, however it is used as a medicinal. It works in treating snakebite, paralysis, dropsy, and apparently some cancers. The plant might have come from Central to South America, however it has actually been presented worldwide and flourishes wild in locations like India, Africa, and Asia. Chief amongst Jatropha uses is its potential as a clean burning fuel to replace fossil fuels. Plantation growing in certain areas has actually been tried, however overall Jatropha curcas cultivation has actually been a miserable failure. This is since the production mass of oil can not equal the land usage by cropping Jatropha.

Jatropha Plant Care and Growth

The plant is easy to grow from cuttings or seed. Cuttings result in faster maturity and quicker seed production. It chooses warm climates, however it can survive a light frost. The deep taproot makes it drought-tolerant, although the best growth will be achieved with supplemental watering sometimes. It doesn't have any major disease or insect issues in its . It may be pruned, but flowers and fruit kind on terminal development, so it is best to wait till after blooming. No other Jatropha plant care is needed. This plant works as a hedge or living fence, or just as a decorative stand-alone specimen.

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Bonnie Grant is a professional landscaper with an Accreditation in Urban Gardening. She has actually been gardening and writing for 15 years. A former professional chef, she has an enthusiasm for edible landscaping.