The Field Performance of some Accessions of Jatropha Curcas L. (Biodiesel Plant) on Degraded Sodic Land in North India

Abstract

Twenty four accessions of Jatropha curcas L. (JCL) were planted on a degraded sodic land in Lucknow, India, in which growth and yield traits were measured over five years (2006–2010). There was a large variation in growth and yield among these accessions, and the average seed yield (118 g plant⁻¹) and oil content (30%) of JCL on the sodic land were sufficiently low to make it an economically feasible venture for biofuel production. The seed:fruit, kernel:seed ratios and the 100 seed test weight were also measured. In order to make it an economically viable proposition, some preliminary screening were done to assort the superior accessions (CSMCRI-C1, NBPGR-Urlikanchan, NBPGR-Chhatrapati, and NBPGR-Hansraj), on the basis of growth and yield traits, that have attained an average height of 264.6–344.6 cm, with an 8.5- to 10-cm collar diameter, 41–57 branches per plant, a 209- to 290-cm canopy spread, a 178–246 g plant⁻¹ seed yield, and a 27–38% oil content at five years. Though they do not correlate well between growth/yield and gas exchange parameters (photosynthetic rate, transpiration, stomatal conductance, and water use efficiency), even then these markers are useful to screen out a large number of accessions at an early stage before the yield starts or stabilizes to increase the land use efficiency. The changes in soil properties after five years of the plantations showed reduction in soil pH and electrical conductivity, with a parallel increase in organic carbon, organic nitrogen, microbial biomass, and dehydrogenase activity, indicating that JCL had a modest ability to reclaim the sodic soils.

Keywords:

• Biodiesel production
• Oil content
• Seed yield
• Wasteland utilization
• Energy crop

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The study was supported by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, India, under the New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI) program as a special grant (CSIR-NMITLI) in the 11th Five Year Plan of the government of India (GOI). The authors are thankful to Dr S.K. Brahmachari, DG-CSIR, for considering this program to clarify several assumptions and exaggerations on Jatropha-based biofuel policy of India. The authors are also thankful to Dr C.S. Nautiyal, Director, National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, India, for constant support and critical advice to complete this work.