Harnessing the Potential of Jatropha and Pongamia Plantations for Improving Livelihoods and Rehabilitating Degraded Lands

Wani, S P and Sreedevi, T K and Marimuthu, S and Rao, A V R K and Vineela, C (2009) Harnessing the Potential of Jatropha and Pongamia Plantations for Improving Livelihoods and Rehabilitating Degraded Lands. In: 6th International Biofuels Conference, 4-5 March 2009, New Delhi, India.

[img]
Preview
PDF - Published Version
Download (4MB) | Preview

Abstract

Current increase in demand of knowledge for alternative sources to fossil fuel has triggered lot of interest in use of non-edible oils as green knowledge source in de;eloped and developing countries. ICRISAT is adopting pro-poor bio-fuel strategy to benefit vulnerable sections of the society through development of degraded common property resources and individual lands which are not suitable for food production by adopting consortium approach. Research and development options for harnessing the potential of Jatropha and Pongamia are undertaken to increase productivity of Jatropha and Pongamia plantations. Large vmiability in the accessions of Jatropha and Pongamia was observed for total oil content varying from 27.4% to 40.6% in case of Jatropha and from 21 to 41 % in case of Pongamia. These accessions are evaluated for different agronomic characters along with yield potential under rain-fed conditions at ICRISAT, Patancheru, India. Application of nitrogen and phosphorus at different levels .indicated that during the 4'h year harvest index (pod to seed ratio) varied from 53-56% with different fertilizer treatment. The plant yield of Jatropha within an accession with 3x2 spacing varied upto 1.4 to 1.6 kg ha per plant (2.3 to 2.7 t ho" under rainfed conditions).Water use efficiency of three years old Jatropha plantations indicated that evapo-transpiration demand under no moisture stress for Jatropha varied from 1150-1350 mm per yem. Under the semi-arid tropical conditions Jatropha is able to use water relatively 40-57% of nonstress situation. Intercropping with Jatropha and Pongamia plantations is feasible and even during 4'h year in pruned Jatropha plantations with yield of different crops varying from 0.29 t ho" in case of green gram to 1.5 t ha" for sorghum. Intercrops like sorghum, pearimillet, pigeon pea, soybean, mung bean, chickpea, sunflower, safflower with Jatropha and pearl millet and pigeon pea with Pongamia could be successfully grown. An additional income of Rs.5,000 to Rs.16,OOO per ha can be obtained on low-quality (but reasonably able to support crop growth) soil.Nutrient budgeting approach can -be used successfully to work aut nutrients requirement needed to achieve targeted yields in crop like Jatropha_ Fallen leaves quantity and nutrient content of Jatropha varied with plant age and fertility treatment and contained 9500 mg N kg" which is lowest amongst different plant parts such as shoots and seeds as well as deoiled seed cake_ One year plantation returned 16 kg N ha,l and three-year plantation returned 21 kg N ha" through fallen leaves_ The fallen leaves also added 1 000 kg ha" organic C to soil in addition to carbon fixed in seeds which will replace fossil fuel C De-oiled seed cake after extracting necessary oil can be used as plant nutrient source on the farmers' fields, Benefits of oil seed cake application in terms of increased yields of maize, cotton and other crops were higher than N applied through mineral fertilizer source.

Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Divisions: UNSPECIFIED
CRP: UNSPECIFIED
Subjects: Others > Land Degradation
Others > Jatropha
Depositing User: Mr Sanat Kumar Behera
Date Deposited: 02 Dec 2011 11:11
Last Modified: 15 Dec 2011 09:14
URI: http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/4716
Acknowledgement: UNSPECIFIED
Links:
View Statistics

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item