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70 Advances in Eco-Fuels for a Sustainable Environment

Table 3.8 Climatic requirements for the cultivation of some nonedible
feedstock [7, 10–12, 42]

Feedstocks Scientific name Climatic requirement
Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) Subtropical and tropical regions
Neem (Azadirachta indica) Subarid to subhumid conditions and not suitable
for growth in high and cold regions
Mahua (Madhuca indica) Dry tropical and subtropical climate
Caper (Euphorbia lathyris L.) Temperate regions
spurge
Karanja (Pongamia pinnata L.) Well adapted to arid zones, suitable for growth in
tropical regions
Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) Warm and arid tropical regions
Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) Subtropical regions or humus tropical climate
Rice bran (Oryza sativa) Temperate regions
Castor (Ricinus communis) Temperate regions and is also seen in tropical and
subtropical climates
Yellow (Thevetia peruvianam) Tropical regions
oleander
Crambe (Crambe abyssinica Wide climatic adaptation including high altitude
Hochst) and subtropical regions
Milk weed (Asclepias syriaca) Temperate and tropical regions
Putranjiva (Putranjiva roxburghii) Warm to tropical and subtropical regions
Azedarach (Melia azedarach L.) Subtropical climatic regions, Mediterranean
region and temperate regions
Sea mango (Cerbera odollam) Tropical regions
Ref. [7, 10–12, 17, 42, 43].

grows under a wide variety of climatic conditions and changes. The high adaptability
of Jatropha makes it thrive under both high and low rainfall and it can resist drought
and severe heat. The average required rainfall is around 480–2400mm with a temper-
ature between 20°C and 28°C [7]. The tree can grow up to 5m in height. It does not
compete with arable crops as it can be planted in wastelands and is capable of surviv-
ing in abandoned and fallowed agricultural land; this makes the production of the oil
more economical. It matures after 12months, but full maturity is reached after 5 years
with annual fruiting. Once the tree starts producing, it can complete 50years of con-
tinuous production before completing its life cycle. The seed of Jatropha contains
about 20%–60% yield of oil per weight of seed and the kernel contains about
40%–60% oil. The kilogram of oil yield per hectare has been put at around
1900–2500. Jatropha oil is nonedible due to the presence of toxins in the oil that
requires further detoxification for its use for any nutritional purposes. It is the main
source of biodiesel production in India in terms of biodiesel yield based on the oil;
approximately 99% biodiesel yield is possible. The major determinants of the oil con-
tent are the species grown and climatic conditions. Generally, the saturation,