Description
Jatropha curcus is a drought-resistant perennial, growing well in
marginal/poor soil. It is easy to establish, grows relatively
quickly and lives, producing seeds for *0 years.
Jatropha the wonder plant produces seeds with an oil content of
*7%. The oil can be combusted as fuel without being refined. It
burns with clear smoke-free flame, tested successfully as fuel for
simple diesel engine. The by-products are press cake a good organic
fertilizer, oil contains also insecticide.
It is found to be growing in many parts of the country, rugged in
nature and can survive with minimum inputs and easy to
propagate.
Medically it is used for diseases like cancer, piles, snakebite,
paralysis, dropsy etc.
Jatropha grows wild in many areas of India and even thrives on
infertile soil. A good crop can be obtained with little effort.
Depending on soil quality and rainfall, oil can be extracted from
the jatropha nuts after two to five years. The annual nut yield
ranges from 0.5 to *2 tons. The kernels consist of oil to about *0
percent; this can be transformed into biodiesel fuel through
esterification.
Family: Euphorbiaceae Synonyms: Curcas purgans Medic.
Vernacular/common names: English- physic nut, purging nut; Hindi -
Ratanjyot Jangli erandi; Malayalam - Katamanak; Tamil -
Kattamanakku; Telugu - Pepalam; Kannada - Kadaharalu; Gujarathi -
Jepal; Sanskrit - Kanana randa.