Hello Theo Why do you want to use jatropha? Attracted by the high yields?
Actually you asked us about all this a month ago. I replied, you didn't, now you're asking it all again, and more. This was my reply then: >Hello Theo > >>We are interested in planting jatropha curcas for producing our own >>biodiesel and have found quite a bit of information on the net but a lot of >>it is conflicting. So we have a lot of questions that we need answering and >>would appreciate any help in this regard. We are also looking for a place >>to buy seeds, as there doesnât seem to be place where we can purchase in >>South Africa. >> >>1. How much oil can we conservatively expect per hectare? >>2. Do cuttings give a lower yield than seedlings/seeds and does this last >>over the life span of the tree? >>3. What is the ideal spacing for planting and what are the best conditions >>for growing and planting? >>4. How long does it take for the plant to yield nuts and for how long will >>it produce? >>5. How often does the tree bear fruit? >>6. Is it necessary to irrigate to get the maximum yield? >>7. Must we protect the plant against specific pests and diseases? >>8. What can we do with the remains of the nuts after pressing >>them for oil? >>9. How much biodiesel can we expect to get out of processed oil? > >1. Why do you want to plant jatropha? High yield? > >2. Why do you want to plant a monocrop? Monocrops aren't sustainable >- you'd want to produce sustainable biofuels via unsustainable ag >methods? > >Anyway, do an archive search for "jatropha" (without the quotes), >there's a lot of information there: >http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/BIOFUEL/ > >Including this: > >"Jatropha curcas is a good option, but there are many other good >options. The idea that it's the best option just doesn't take into >account how development projects work, if they work at all, and this >type of "best technology" thinking is one reason they often don't >work. Almost any locally grown crop would have more going for it, >regardless of Jatropha's yield and general usefulness. That's no >reason not to use Jatropha, but it has to be fitted in properly, and >once again full local involvement is essential for that to happen." > >Best > >Keith Have a look at this previous message - it includes some poor results from jatropha: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/BIOFUEL/31968/ It would be nice to have a response this time. Best Keith >We are very interested in producing bio diesel from jatropha. > >What is confusing to us is that one source will indicate that bio diesel is >as efficient as normal diesel and another source will say that you have 15% >loss. Also there are numerous other instances where one source will say one >thing and another one will say something different. > >We live in South Africa in an area with a reasonably high rainfall. Verging >on the sub tropical. > >There is lots of under utilised ground and more than adequate labour >sources. > >The idea is to organise people into co-ops etc. > >Do you believe that jatropha is the way to go taking into consideration the >above mentioned facts or should we be looking at something else? > >We would like to know what the correct answers are to the following: > 1. Can you use oil pressed from jatropha directly as a fuel for a diesel >engine? > 2. Is there any power loss compared to normal diesel fuel and what if any? > 3. What is the correct spacing to use when planting jatropha. > 4. Is it more desirable to establish plantations using cuttings, seeds or >seedlings? > 5. Do you know of any reputable dealers in seed or cuttings? >5.b. It must be remembered that that the above seeds will have to >transported via air freight. > 6. What yields seeds/oil can conservatively be expected per hectare once >the plants are > established. > 7. What ongoing inputs are needed and is it necessary to water and clean >around the trees on > a on going basis? > 8. Are there any pests and diseases we should be prepared for? > 9. How long does it take for the tree to reach full yield and for how long >can you expect this > to continue, conservatively? > 10. How often does the tree bear nuts/fruit? > 11. We are led to believe that you can grow the trees from cuttings quiet >easily. Is this true > and do the get the same yields etc. from cuttings? > 12. Can the remains of the seeds be used for anything once we have pressed >out the oil? > 13. Are there any other uses for the by products. > >Will appreciate all inputs. >Theo > > > > > > > > >Biofuel at Journey to Forever: >http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > >Biofuels list archives: >http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ > >Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. >To unsubscribe, send an email to: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] >Yahoo! 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