Jatropha curcas L. is found throughout the Philippines. In fact, different regions have their own common name for Jatropha. In the Tagalog region it is known as tubang-bakod, tuba and sambo. Among the Bicolanos, it is called tuba and tuba-tuba; in Pangasinan and Nueva Ecija, it is called tagumbao; tawa-tawa in Ilocos and kalunay in Cagayan Valley. In the Visayas and Mindanao, it is also known as tuba-tuba; kasla among the Ilonggos and tangan-tangan in Lanao region.
Jatropha is a drought resistant perennial shrub or small tree that has an economic life of up to 35 years and can live for 50 years. It grows fast, with little or no need for maintenance and can reach a height of 3 to 8 meters.
It has a smooth gray bark which exudes whitish color, watery, latex when cut. The size of the leaves ranges from 6-16 cm. in length and width. The leaves are green to pale, alternate to sub-opposite with 3 to 5 lobes. It sheds leaves in the dry season and rejuvenates during rainy season.
Flowers are formed terminally, individually, with female flowers usually slightly larger. It is pollinated by insects, especially honey bees. Two flowering peaks are often observed and occur during the wet season. Each inflorescence yields fruits.
After the seeds mature, 3 bi-valved cocci are formed. The seeds become mature when the capsule changes from green to yellow about three months after flowering.
It grows on well-drained soils with good aeration and is well adapted to marginal soils with low nutrient content. On heavy soils, root formation is reduced. Jatropha is a highly adaptable species, but its strength as a crop comes from its ability to grow on very poor and dry sites.
Site Requirements
Jatropha curcas is a tropical and subtropical plant. It grows almost anywhere even on sandy, gravelly and saline soils and does well on high temperatures.
Select a site with well-drained soils and good aeration. Jatropha is well adopted to marginal soils with low nutrient content but the use of organic fertilizer would result to higher yield. Its water requirement is extremely low and can stand long periods of drought by shedding most of its leaves. It grows best when planted at the start of the rainy season.
Land Preparation
For commercial plantation, prepare the planting site by weeding, cultivation and digging holes, with spacing of 2 x 2 m. apart. For hedges, a distance of 1 x 1 m. is recommended.
Preparation and Production of Planting Materials
Seeds (Sexual Propagation)
For reproduction purposes, harvest the fruits when already yellow to dark brown in color. Two to four months after flowering, seeds should be collected when capsules split open. Experience shows that drying seeds in direct sunlight has negative effect on viability. The number of seeds per kilo ranges from 600 to 1,600.
De-hull the dried seeds using a hollow wooden plank then winnow to separate the hull from the seeds. The seeds are orthodox and should be dried to 5-7 percent moisture content and stored in air-tight containers. The seeds can last to 1 year at room temperature. However, seeds that are oily cannot be stored for long periods.
For seedling production, select the seeds and treat them with water 8 hours before sowing. This is done to soften the seed coat for easy germination. Then put the seeds in the mixture of soil, sand and manure prepared in plastic bags with water. It is best to avoid removing or breaking the seed coat before sowing due to risk of abnormal seedlings.
Top sow the seeds, pour water while pressing it lightly on the soaked soil. The first shoot is expected after 6 days. Water the plants twice a day for seven days and once for the succeeding days. After 2 months, the sapling is ready for plantation.
Stem Cuttings (Asexual Propagation)
Cuttings should be obtained from at least 8-month old mature plant as much as possible 45-100 cm from the base of the stem. Use a saw or sharp bolo to cut it. The plant should be about 3-4 cm. thick and has a short internodes with many eyes. Cuttings serve as an immediate source of planting material that can produce seeds in less than 1-2 years.
Tissue Culture
Tissue culture is a laboratory-based procedure which uses artificial and sterilized propagation media. Tissues from various parts of the plant can be used in this procedure. This method allows choosing desirable characteristics of the mother stock and improving the variety of jatropha.
Utilization of the Plantation
Direct seeding, precultivation of seedlings, easily propagates the Jatropha transplanting of spontaneous wild plants and direct planting of cuttings. Seed should be collected when capsules split open. Use of fresh seeds improves germination. Intervals of presoaking and drying, or partial removal of the testa, are more successful than presoaking alone. With good moisture conditions, germination takes 10 days. The seed shell splits, the radicula emerges and 4 small peripheral roots are formed. Soon after development of the 1st leaves, the cotyledons wither and fall off. Further growth is sympodial
Nursery Operation
One of the most important components of plantation development is nursery operation since it increases the rate of survival of the planting material. The nursery should be accessible to the planting site, preferably on non-sloping area and near the source of water.
Planting Jatropha
Transplant the 2-month old seedling/cutting in a hole 2 x 2 m. apart, or any preferred spacing. Cover the hole with topsoil in a hill-up manner to avoid erosion. Water the plants up to two weeks after transplanting. For cuttings, the same procedure can be adapted provided that the stalk is transplanted within 5 days after cutting.
Fertilizer Application
Although Jatropha is adapted to low fertility sites and alkaline soils, better yields seem to be obtained on poor quality soils if fertilizers containing small amounts of calcium, magnesium, and Sulfur are used. Mycorrhizal associations have been observed with Jatropha and are known to aid the plant’s growth under conditions where phosphate is limiting It is recommended that 1 kg of farmyard manure/ plus 100 g of Neem waste for every seedling, with a recommendation of 2500 plants per ha this comes up to 2.5 t organic fertilizer per ha. Besides it after transplantation and the establishment of the plant fertilizer such as N, P and K should be applied. Twenty gram urea + 120 g SSP and 16 g MoP should be applied annually.
Harvesting
Seeds can usually be harvested 1 year after planting. Seeds for replanting can be gathered when the fruits are already yellow to dark brown. Seeds that are black and dry can already be used for oil extraction.
Economics
Initial investment for commercial plantation (2 x 2 m.) for 1 hectare ranges from PhP 32,119.00 to PhP 52,770.00. The return of investment (ROI) ranges from 0.90 to 1.8 while payback period is between 2nd and 3rd year. Potential yield ranges from 1.25 – 12.5 tones per hectare depending on the site, climate and tending operations.
References:
How to Grow Jatropha for Biodiesel: A Primer, Philippine Forest Corporation
Philippine Journal of Crop Science Vol. 32 No. 1 on Jan. 17, “Towards Making Jatropha curcas (tubang bakod) a Viable Source of Biodiesel in the Philippines. Mendoza, Ted, et. Al.
www.jatrophabiodiesel.org
www.uplb.edu.ph/uplb-news/uplb-news/uplb-link
Jatropha is a drought resistant perennial shrub or small tree that has an economic life of up to 35 years and can live for 50 years. It grows fast, with little or no need for maintenance and can reach a height of 3 to 8 meters.
It has a smooth gray bark which exudes whitish color, watery, latex when cut. The size of the leaves ranges from 6-16 cm. in length and width. The leaves are green to pale, alternate to sub-opposite with 3 to 5 lobes. It sheds leaves in the dry season and rejuvenates during rainy season.
Flowers are formed terminally, individually, with female flowers usually slightly larger. It is pollinated by insects, especially honey bees. Two flowering peaks are often observed and occur during the wet season. Each inflorescence yields fruits.
After the seeds mature, 3 bi-valved cocci are formed. The seeds become mature when the capsule changes from green to yellow about three months after flowering.
It grows on well-drained soils with good aeration and is well adapted to marginal soils with low nutrient content. On heavy soils, root formation is reduced. Jatropha is a highly adaptable species, but its strength as a crop comes from its ability to grow on very poor and dry sites.
Site Requirements
Jatropha curcas is a tropical and subtropical plant. It grows almost anywhere even on sandy, gravelly and saline soils and does well on high temperatures.
Select a site with well-drained soils and good aeration. Jatropha is well adopted to marginal soils with low nutrient content but the use of organic fertilizer would result to higher yield. Its water requirement is extremely low and can stand long periods of drought by shedding most of its leaves. It grows best when planted at the start of the rainy season.
Land Preparation
For commercial plantation, prepare the planting site by weeding, cultivation and digging holes, with spacing of 2 x 2 m. apart. For hedges, a distance of 1 x 1 m. is recommended.
Preparation and Production of Planting Materials
Seeds (Sexual Propagation)
For reproduction purposes, harvest the fruits when already yellow to dark brown in color. Two to four months after flowering, seeds should be collected when capsules split open. Experience shows that drying seeds in direct sunlight has negative effect on viability. The number of seeds per kilo ranges from 600 to 1,600.
De-hull the dried seeds using a hollow wooden plank then winnow to separate the hull from the seeds. The seeds are orthodox and should be dried to 5-7 percent moisture content and stored in air-tight containers. The seeds can last to 1 year at room temperature. However, seeds that are oily cannot be stored for long periods.
For seedling production, select the seeds and treat them with water 8 hours before sowing. This is done to soften the seed coat for easy germination. Then put the seeds in the mixture of soil, sand and manure prepared in plastic bags with water. It is best to avoid removing or breaking the seed coat before sowing due to risk of abnormal seedlings.
Top sow the seeds, pour water while pressing it lightly on the soaked soil. The first shoot is expected after 6 days. Water the plants twice a day for seven days and once for the succeeding days. After 2 months, the sapling is ready for plantation.
Stem Cuttings (Asexual Propagation)
Cuttings should be obtained from at least 8-month old mature plant as much as possible 45-100 cm from the base of the stem. Use a saw or sharp bolo to cut it. The plant should be about 3-4 cm. thick and has a short internodes with many eyes. Cuttings serve as an immediate source of planting material that can produce seeds in less than 1-2 years.
Tissue Culture
Tissue culture is a laboratory-based procedure which uses artificial and sterilized propagation media. Tissues from various parts of the plant can be used in this procedure. This method allows choosing desirable characteristics of the mother stock and improving the variety of jatropha.
Utilization of the Plantation
- For quick establishment of hedges and plantation for erosion control, directly planted cuttings are best.
- For long-lived plantations for vegetative oil production, plants propagated by seeds are better.
Direct seeding, precultivation of seedlings, easily propagates the Jatropha transplanting of spontaneous wild plants and direct planting of cuttings. Seed should be collected when capsules split open. Use of fresh seeds improves germination. Intervals of presoaking and drying, or partial removal of the testa, are more successful than presoaking alone. With good moisture conditions, germination takes 10 days. The seed shell splits, the radicula emerges and 4 small peripheral roots are formed. Soon after development of the 1st leaves, the cotyledons wither and fall off. Further growth is sympodial
Nursery Operation
One of the most important components of plantation development is nursery operation since it increases the rate of survival of the planting material. The nursery should be accessible to the planting site, preferably on non-sloping area and near the source of water.
Planting Jatropha
Transplant the 2-month old seedling/cutting in a hole 2 x 2 m. apart, or any preferred spacing. Cover the hole with topsoil in a hill-up manner to avoid erosion. Water the plants up to two weeks after transplanting. For cuttings, the same procedure can be adapted provided that the stalk is transplanted within 5 days after cutting.
Fertilizer Application
Although Jatropha is adapted to low fertility sites and alkaline soils, better yields seem to be obtained on poor quality soils if fertilizers containing small amounts of calcium, magnesium, and Sulfur are used. Mycorrhizal associations have been observed with Jatropha and are known to aid the plant’s growth under conditions where phosphate is limiting It is recommended that 1 kg of farmyard manure/ plus 100 g of Neem waste for every seedling, with a recommendation of 2500 plants per ha this comes up to 2.5 t organic fertilizer per ha. Besides it after transplantation and the establishment of the plant fertilizer such as N, P and K should be applied. Twenty gram urea + 120 g SSP and 16 g MoP should be applied annually.
Harvesting
Seeds can usually be harvested 1 year after planting. Seeds for replanting can be gathered when the fruits are already yellow to dark brown. Seeds that are black and dry can already be used for oil extraction.
Economics
Initial investment for commercial plantation (2 x 2 m.) for 1 hectare ranges from PhP 32,119.00 to PhP 52,770.00. The return of investment (ROI) ranges from 0.90 to 1.8 while payback period is between 2nd and 3rd year. Potential yield ranges from 1.25 – 12.5 tones per hectare depending on the site, climate and tending operations.
References:
How to Grow Jatropha for Biodiesel: A Primer, Philippine Forest Corporation
Philippine Journal of Crop Science Vol. 32 No. 1 on Jan. 17, “Towards Making Jatropha curcas (tubang bakod) a Viable Source of Biodiesel in the Philippines. Mendoza, Ted, et. Al.
www.jatrophabiodiesel.org
www.uplb.edu.ph/uplb-news/uplb-news/uplb-link
If you want to formulate a detailed study on your jatropha plantation, we undertake and provide the following:
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Please help me to get a scholarship or a complete documentation to formulate a detailed study on your jatropha plantation a detailed feasibility study report and a business plan, for 20-100 ha, step by step.
Thanks
DIAWARA from Guinea, west Africa
bsdiawara1@yahoo.fr
Its very nice to post jatropha farming in your blog, recently i am working on "Testing and Synthesis of Bio-Diesel" as my final year project, so its very useful for me.
i posted the same thing in my blog, so that more people can aware about this.
I am studying West African culture and wish to use your detailed description within a newspaper article. All links and authors remain.
:)
Is there any mill that is currently buying the Jatropha seeds in Philippines?
In my areas, farmers are cutting down their Jatropha trees because is there is no mill to sell to.