Jatropha under fire in Africa over claims of seed performance in poor soils with low maintenance
In South Africa, EcoWorldly ran an article on the growing disenchantment with jatropha as a biodiesel “wonder crop“, with unhappiness focusing more on unwarranted hype over potential production, than dismay with the feedstock as a whole.
The report cites a meeting with farmers held by Chief Michael Udo Akpan, chairman of a branch of the Nigerian All Farmers Association, in which the chief stated (according to EcoWorldly) that “a hectare of land is capable of producing more than 226 gallons of biodiesel and that trees had a lifespan of 40-50 years, can be harvested three times in a year and could do well on any type of soil”. The article contrasts this with guidance from D1 Oils with an expectation of “2 tons of oil per hectare on well managed estates at maturity”. The extent to which jatropha will grow on poor soils with little maintenance is the heart of the controversy.
EcoWorldly said “It needs to asked again if the industry is repeating this kind of “Jatropha euphoria” with other biofuels like algal biodiesel and cellulosic ethanol which will eventually lead to the same disillusion.”
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Joelle Brink | Jun 9, 2009 | Reply
The chief’s information is correct for well cultivated jatropha trees with suitable soil and water, and the soil and crop scientists at the University of Hawaii are presently getting three seed crops a year from their test fields of hybrid plants. http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/ctahr2001/TPSS/facultystaff/profiles/ogoshiR.html
But if you plant a weed in poor soil with insufficient water what you get a weed doing what weeds do best–surviving. In a decade or two a jatropha tree may drop enough leaves to improve the soil, but that is not the kind of timeline most investors are interested in.
Soils scientist Richard Ogoshi(see URL) is currently working on soil amendments to exhausted Dole plantations to make them productive for jatropha cultivation. His work has application to many efforts to make jatropha plantations more productive worldwide. Follow the URL above for his contact information.
bhamilton | Jun 10, 2009 | Reply
Yes and I suppose you have a collection of hens teeth!
Really if the company with the most to loose says they can only reach 2.0 ton / ha why would you not believe them?
We are looking for mass production if we are to penetrate the global fuel industry not a tree in someone’s greenhouse!
Your URL tells me nothing!