Could "Jatropha Curcas" Be the Missing Piece in the Climate Change Puzzle?

With climate change in the forefront of everyone's minds, Scientists continue to search for the just the right piece to insert into the intricate climate change solution puzzle. One such recent puzzle piece is "carbon farming", and more specifically, carbon farming using the Jatropha Curcas plant/tree.

Although predominantly used to produce bio-diesel, the Jatropha Curcas tree is also being piloted for sequestering harmful carbon emissions from our atmosphere.

Aside from bio-diesel production, the by-product of Jatropha Curcas' trans-esterification process can also be used to make a vast array of products such as: soap, toothpaste, cosmetics, high quality paper, energy pellets, cough medicine, embalming fluid, or used as a moisturizer in tobacco products, or to create a rich organic fertilizer, as well as to produce pipe joint cement.

Jatropha Curcas grows best on soil that is well drained, and has good aeration, and thrives best in temperatures averaging 20-28 degrees Celsius (68-85 degrees Fahrenheit). However, it is also extremely adaptable, and can survive in areas with marginal or low nutrient content soils. Botanists recommend Jatropha Curcas to be planted at a rate of 3,030 plants per hectare or (2.5 acres). Although it requires some water to survive (recommended 660 mm rainfall per year), it can easily withstand long periods of drought making it an ideal plant for coastal desert communities who have access to desalinated seawater sources. Even more impressive, is fact that the Jatropha Curcas plants themselves are capable of producing bioenergy (in the form of tree trimmings) which would support the power production needed to propel the desalination and irrigation systems.

Read More..