Performance Evaluation of Superior Accessions of Jatropha Curcas in Tropical Climate of Madhya Pradesh, India

Escalating petroleum prices and alarmingly depleting fossil fuel reserves have brought biofuel to the forefront of energy crisis management plans in many developing countries. Due to stagnating domestic crude oil production, India imports approximately 72 percent of its petroleum requirement. The best alternatives are bio-fuels (nontoxic and biodegradable) and among them, bio-diesel have immense potential to mitigate the current and future energy needs of the country. To meet this challenging and catastrophic situation, Jatropha can act as an environmental friendly alternative feedstock for bio-diesel production. The ‘Jatropha oil’ can be easily processed to partially or fully replace petroleum-based diesel fuel. Thus, the use of this plant for large-scale biodiesel production is of great interest with regard to solving the energy shortage, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, rural employment generation and increasing the income of farmers. For this, vast area should have to be brought under Jatropha plantation with quality planting material particularly in terms of higher yield and oil content of the seeds. With the objective of evaluating the potential and performance of superior accessions of Jatropha under tropical climate, a systematic research has been conducted at Tropical Forest Research Institute, Jabalpur under the national network programme of National Oilseeds and Vegetable Oils Development Board. In the study 33 accessions were evaluated for their growth performance (height, collar diameter, no. of branches, fruiting pattern, fruit yield, seed characteristics and oil percentage). The trials were established during 2005 in randomized block design with three replications. Growth data was recorded regularly and statistically analyzed. The study revealed that IGAU-1, TNMC-5 and TFRI-2 accessions are performing better among all other accessions. This study will provide baseline information for planning further Jatropha curcas improvement programmes.