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Jatropha Curcas

Joseph-Edges Emeribe

www.edges-joseph.blogspot.com

Jatropha Curcas: The Green Jewel

The plant-‘Jatropha Curcas’ though sounds new, isn’t strange to Nigerians, because the Hausas, Igbos and Yorubas know it as ‘Cini da zugu’, ‘Wuluidu’ and ‘Lapalapa’ respectively. However, outside the shores of this country it is known as ‘Physic Plant’, ‘Purging nut’ or ‘big purginant’.

The plant which is a small tree or shrub of the Euphorbiaceous’ family is smooth, grey with fairly dominant green bark, which exudes whitish colour watery latex when cut. It is fairly indestructible crop that produces fairly black oil-seed, which is not edible to man or animal. Normally it grows between 3-5 metres or 10 metres under favourable conditions.

The essence of this write-up is to re-establish the fact that there is a lot to be treasured in plants most especially Jatropha Curcas. It is then necessary in times like this when we are being faced with the challenge of accumulated greenhouse gasses – gasses from fossil fuel – on the ozone layer creates holes in the layer; this therefore exposes humans directly to the harmful ultraviolet rays coming from the sun. Apart from this, the resultant effect of global warming is readily noticeable all across the world, some of which include excessive flooding and trapping of too much heat in the atmosphere, thereby making the summer especially hot. Moreover, the inflexible upward mobility of the price of crude oil has not only become a major problem to the Western Industrialized Nations, but also the developing and underdeveloped countries world over.

Aside this, experts predict that since fossil fuel are burned on earth’s crust, therefore, whatever their abundance is, they are limited and will eventually be depleted.

Based on these, there have been various expeditions for alternatives; renewable source of energy such as biodiesel to replace the conventional fossil fuel.

Other sources like solar energy, tidal energy, hydroelectric, geothermal energy and wind energy have been ventured into. However, none of these seem to have the capacity to perform in the same way the fossil fuel which includes Nuclear, Natural and Coal does.

Sequel to this, the plant is cherished for its medicinal value and the cake can be used as livestock feed if properly processed. It is noteworthy that the distribution, establishment, harvesting and uses are not documented in Nigeria. The fact that the biofuel can be used to replace fossil fuel or substitute fuel wood is enough to encourage its cultivation in Nigeria.

Basically, biofuels are renewable fuel that is derived from biological matter – oil seeds; these vegetable oil-seed fuel can run in unmodified diesel engines such as cars, bus, trucks, construction equipment, generators and oil home heating units. It can be blended with regular diesel or run 100% biodiesel on unmodified diesel engines. They are renewable and depending on the feedstock, the processing technology and the type of fuel, they can offer environmental benefits such as lower carbon emissions and lower sulfur compared with conventional petroleum-based fuels

Some plants have been examined such as Pumpkin seed, Hazelnuts, Pecan nuts, Jatropha and so many others. Of all these, the Jatropha; a small tree shrub with smooth grey with fairly dominant green bark is the most preferred of all. This preference is informed by so many rationales, which includes the fact that Jatropha Curcas grows almost everywhere even on gravelly sandy and saline soils. And also, because it is not consumed by man or animals, therefore, there is no competition for food on it.

The leaves are green to pale or pale red in colour depending on the variety. Leaves are alternate to sub-opposite with three to five lobes. The flowers are formed terminally or individually with female flowers slightly larger and occur mostly during the dry season. The plant produced fruit throughout the year while multiple fruiting could also occur during a year on the same plant. The seeds are matured (2-4months) when the capsule changes from the usual green colour to yellow.

The oil-rich seeds are very attractive feed stock for biofuel production. The kernel consists of about 60% oil which can be transformed through esterification into biofuel. The green energy of the plant can be used to power various machines while the biofuel mix was reported as being more efficient and burn less fuel in total than the conventional one. It burn with clear smoke-free flame. It is a proven hypothesis that a litre of biofuel last longer than a litre of petrol motor spirit (petrol).

Most importantly, Jatropha is unique among oil feedstock crops because It is resistant to drought, pests and diseases, easy to establish, grows relatively quickly and is hardy, various parts of the plant are of medicinal value; its bark contains tannin, the flowers attract bees and thus the plant has honey production potential, it can be intercropped with other arable crops such as maize, millet, pepper and some vegetables especially during early years of establishment which will bring more income to the farmer.  

Also, the seed of a Jatropha plant can last up to six months if it is well ventilated and stored with recommended sacks without it coming in contact with moisture.  The plant also flowers for about 5months and the fruits mature between 2 and 4 months after. The seed should be harvested when it turns yellowish in colour and should not be left to open up in other to avoid wastage; he added that harvesting Jatropha manually requires one worker for every one acre. In furtherance he advised that the seed should be taken to the processing site and dry under shade till the fruit opens which should be separated and cleaned. The seeds should be well dried (5-7% moisture) and later store in airtight container.

Using Nigeria as a case study, the constant rise in the price of non-renewable source of energy (petroleum) and its adverse effects such as global warming has led to the quest for alternative renewable source of energy such as biodiesel, of which jatropha plant is a major source of extraction.

Countries like China, Australia, India, Brazil, Indonesia, Thailand and some African countries like Malawi, Mali, Zimbabwe, and South America are already in the forefront of biodiesel production from Jatropha.

Be that as it may, the relevance of this plant to us as an individual and nation cannot be over-emphasized; despite the fact that it’s found almost everywhere, its potentials as a ‘green jewel’  is yet to be utilized to correct the wrongs in our economy, environment and even politics.