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JatrophaJatropha:: BioBio--fuel Crop for Omanfuel Crop for Oman

Ahmed AlAhmed Al--Busaidi and Mushtaque AhmedBusaidi and Mushtaque Ahmed

College of Agricultural & Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman

Definition of BiofuelsDefinition of Biofuelsfuels derived from biomass: plant material, crop energy, or agricultural and forestry wastes and by-products used as energy source.

ExamplesExamples Sunflower oil

Coconut oil

Rapeseed oil

Palm oil

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Why use BiofuelsWhy use Biofuels LimitedLimited Carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide ProductionProduction Rural economyRural economy

Advantages:Advantages: Renewable, BiodegradableRenewable, Biodegradable EfficientEfficient Engine Friendly Engine Friendly Healthier Healthier Carbon NeutralCarbon Neutral Job generation Job generation

Global warming

Biodiesel Biodiesel -- WorldWorld

European Community USA

World

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EU 60%USA

16%

Indonesia4%

Malaysia

3%

Brazil2% R.o.W

15%

USA 50%

Brazil 38%

EU 4%

China 4%

R.o.W4%

Source: F.O. Licht; FAO (2008)

What Is What Is JatrophaJatropha (a biofuel crop)?(a biofuel crop)?

JatrophaJatropha (Jatropha Curcas) (Jatropha Curcas) is an excellent biofuel is an excellent biofuel crop which has many other advantages over existing crop which has many other advantages over existing crops. crops.

The hardy jatropha is resistant to The hardy jatropha is resistant to droughtdrought and and pestspests, , and produces and produces seedsseeds containing up to containing up to 4040% oil% oil. When . When the seeds are crushed and processed, the resulting oil the seeds are crushed and processed, the resulting oil can be used in a standard can be used in a standard diesel enginediesel engine, while the , while the residue can also be processed into residue can also be processed into biomassbiomass to power to power electricity plants.electricity plants.

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Not only does it have a great yield of well Not only does it have a great yield of well over over 22,,000 000 barrels of oil per square mile per barrels of oil per square mile per year, year, it also increases the fertility of the it also increases the fertility of the land.land.

Jatropha absorbs large amounts of carbon Jatropha absorbs large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and therefore dioxide from the atmosphere and therefore earns carbon creditsearns carbon credits

What Is What Is JatrophaJatropha (a biofuel crop)?(a biofuel crop)?

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Global Water Resources

Global water resources (UNESCO / UNEP, 2002)

•• Water is one of the most important constraints for food production.Water is one of the most important constraints for food production.•• Using almost the same water and land resources, more food must be Using almost the same water and land resources, more food must be grown for the 800 million people malnourished today and the 2 billion grown for the 800 million people malnourished today and the 2 billion more people expected by 2025.more people expected by 2025.

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In dry countries, 20In dry countries, 20--50% of all irrigation water used is lost through evaporation50% of all irrigation water used is lost through evaporation.. Human action & bad management 20% of irrigated areas affected by salinityHuman action & bad management 20% of irrigated areas affected by salinity Annual growth of saltAnnual growth of salt--affected irrigated land 1affected irrigated land 1--2 million ha2 million ha

Saline soils

(FAO, 2005)

Extent of Salinity in Agricultural LandsExtent of Salinity in Agricultural Lands

Salinity at Country LevelSalinity in CWANA countries

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

16.0

18.0

20.0

Qatar

Turkmenista

n Iran

Uzbekista

n Iraq

United Arab Emira

tesEgypt

Kuwait

Tunisia

Kazakhistan

Oman

Afghanistan

Morocco

Tajikista

n

Saudi Arabia

Jordan

AlgeriaSyria

Libya

Kyrgyzstan

Lebanon

Western Sahara

% o

f lan

d ar

ea

Qatar

Turkmenistan

Iran

Uzbekistan

Iraq

United ArabEmiratesEgypt

Kuwait

Tunisia

Kazakhistan

Oman

Afghanistan

Morocco

Tajikistan

Saudi Arabia

Jordan

Algeria

Central & West Asia & North Africa Pauw (2001)

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Hot ClimateHot Climate

*Arid Countrywith annual rainfall of 100 mm

*Groundwater is the main source of water

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Biofuels’sBiofuels’s NeedsNeeds

LAND

CLIMATELABOR

TECHNOLOGY

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

WHAT IS NECESSARY TO

PRODUCE BIOFUELS?

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Objectives To evaluate the ability of Jatropha plant to grow and

survive under saline irrigation (3 & 6 dS/m) and heat stress condition.

Study the interactive effects of these factors on seed production and oil quality.

To make a qualitative but critical analysis of the expectedsustainability of bio-diesel production from Jatropha, withthe main focus on the environmental sustainability underOman conditions.

Materials and Methods

Treatment (36 pots)

Saline irrigation (fresh water, 3 & 6 dS m-1)

Growth condition(glasshouse with controlled temperature,

shadehouse and open area)

Soil & Plant parameters were monitored and measured

The pots experiments were carried out in Agricultural Experiment Station at the College of Agricultural & Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman.

Irrigation = ETC

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Materials and Methods

• Growth conditions (T (oC) & RH (%)).• ETc by weighting method (mm/day).• Soil water salinity & water content.

• Plant parameters (height, leaf area, plant fresh & dry weights).• Soil salinity at (0 – 20 cm).

Measured Parameters

Result & Discussion: Selected physicochemical characteristics of soil

Property Value

EC (1: 5) water 0.03 dS m-1

pH 6.36Exchangeable K+ 0.06 cmolc kg-1

Exchangeable Ca2+ 0.34 cmolc kg-1

Exchangeable Mg2+ 0.45 cmolc kg-1

Exchangeable Na+ 0.10 cmolc kg-1

CEC 2.40 cmolc kg-1

Bulk density 1.47 g cm-3

Infiltration rate (intake rate) 30.0 mm min-1

FC (pF 1.8)PWP (pF 4.2)Texture

6 %2 %Sand

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Result & Discussion

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Apr-09 Jun-09 Jul-09 Aug-09Month

Tem

pera

ture

(o C)

Glass house Shade house Open field

Temperature data for the three experimental sites

Result & DiscussionSoil salinity and moisture content as affected by different treatments (G: glasshouse, S: shade house, O: open field, C: control, S3: salinity at 3dS/m, S6: salinity at 6dS/m).

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Result & DiscussionPlant parameters under different growth conditions (G: glasshouse, S: shade house, O:open field, C: control, S3: salinity at 3dS/m, S6: salinity at 6dS/m).

Result & DiscussionJatropha leaf area and root weight as affected by different treatments

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Result & Discussion

Parameter Sum of Squares

Mean Square

F Sig.

pH 7.24 0.32 9101.69 0.00

Soil EC 3583720 155813.9 4.78E+08 0.00

MC 1690.75 73.51 3277612 0.00

Plant weight 2071645 90071.53 3.94E+09 0.00

Root weight 142498.1 6195.57 2.71E+08 0.00

R/S ratio 47.68 2.07 92421.66 0.00

Height 98328.18 4275.19 1.87E+08 0.00

Leaf Area 291853.5 12689.28 5.66E+08 0.00

Analysis of variance (ANOVA) for soil and plant parameters.

• The growth conditions had profound effects on the performance of Jatropha and salt accumulation in soil.

• The Jatropha grew well in saline water under a favorable climate of glasshouse. However, high temperature lowered all plant growth parameters.

• This experiment indicated that a good management of soil and water and selecting the best growth condition could be a viable option for sustainable agriculture with minimum loss in plant production.

• There is further need to evaluate the potential growth of Jatropha under Oman condition for oil extraction and bio-fuel production.

Conclusion

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Jatropha growth under different environmental conditions

Growth of Jatropha after transplanting

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Excellent growth (18/12/2010)

2nd studyJatropha growth as affected by irrigation water quality, intervals and fertilizer application

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3nd study

Jatropha growth under field condition&

Evaluate oil quality

In progress

Biofuel