This plant is an oily one of bearing arbustivo, pertaining to the family of the Euforbiáceas, that has more than 3500 species grouped in 210 sorts.
It survives and it grows in marginal, eroded and exhausted earth.
It needs little water to grow, since with 300 ltrs. of pp to the year it is sufficient, although they either do not bother abundant rains to him of until 1800 ltrs. per year.
It begins to produce of profitable way after a year of cultivated field, its production is increased year after year during the first 4 years and from it becomes stabilized there in the 40 - 50 years that it has left of life.
Properties
- the oil produced from the seed of the Jatropha Curcas is similar to the obtained diesel engine of petroleum.
- It is the only oily plant whose productive cycle extends by more than 40 years.
- one adapts to grounds of little fertility.
- the seed generates an oil yield between 30 and 40 % (Last studies give an average of 38 %).
- It is a social culture since small plantations from 3 to 5 can be generated you have, handled by a family like technique of autogestión of use, having a yield of important operation.
- If the land allows it, an additional yield for the same surface of plantation can be associated the culture with a forrajera and be obtained.
- previous Experiences have determined that a first harvest can be done of up to 250 kg in the first 6 - 8 months of growth of the plant. The true commercial harvest occurs soon of the first year of growth and the production becomes stabilized when the plant is 4 years old, obtaining itself from 1500 kg to 2000 kg in barren or semi-arid lands. This production of harvest is duplicated of 3000 kg to 4000 kg with the aggregate from irrigation to the plantation.
- Comparativily the oil of the Jatropha Curcas is very similar to the one of the Colza or Canola.
- the Jatropha resists high temperatures and droughts, to the time that protects and fertilizes the ground.
- the plant is so poisonous that not even it is necessary to take care of of his predators.
- Studies in India, determined that for more than eight months of drought to the year and temperatures that go up to around the 40 degrees, they do not marchitan to the Jatropha.
- earth Extensions until now unsuitable could be cultivated, creating job and benefits to regions with few resources.
- It is a species of potential use in deforested areas, constituting an excellent marginal, idle and exhausted ground alternative, with a life utility of 30-50 years.
- the Jatropha protects the ground of the erosion and frees to the sky leaves from polluting gases.
Description:
Bearing: shrub or small tree, caducifolio, of up to 8 ms of stop, usually less, and of up to 20 cm, with graft Fuste to little height.
Glass: wide and irregular.
Crust: green yellowish, pale and almost smooth, thin like paper, with loosenings in horizontal strips. White internal crust with red rays, exudes a yellowish sap and flavor astringent.
Leaves: simple, alternating, with pecíolos of 5 - 35 cm in length, acorazonada lamina, of 7 - 32 cm of diameter, with three to five lobes, of smooth edge. The beam is green, envés green sure glabro or this last one with fine pelillos.
Flowers: masculine and feminine in the same plant, some hermafroditas, and plants single with feminine, small flowers, with petals of 6 mm in length, off-white.
Fruits: elliptical capsules, of 2,5 - 4 cm in length, almost 3 cm wide, a little fleshy, yellow color that becomes color coffee when maturing and are opened in three parts.
Seeds: 2 - 3 by fruit, oblong ellipsoids, of approximately 2 cm in length and 1 cm wide, pale, with black lines conspicuas. |
