The Jatropha Superbulk
By Rintos Mail (Borneopost Online)
Phenotype of jatropha curcas scientifically proven suitable for Sarawak
FARMERS everywhere hope for the best yield. But with any crop, you can’t just dust it in and expect a good harvest. Good seeds ensure high yields and, consequently, better returns.
In agriculture, collecting seeds from superior parent stocks has been practised for thousands of years. This results in higher yields and environmentally durable plants. This concept, however, has yet to be widely explored in jatropha practice.
To maximise yields and quality of seeds for plantations, similar principles for collecting jatropha seeds should be observed.
Better quality of offspring plants will result if the seeds used to produce them are collected from superior individuals, stands or orchards. This, however, has been overlooked as far as jatropha in Sarawak is concerned.
Contemporary trends across the world indicate a pronounced shift towards jatropha as a viable and sustainable feedstock for biodiesel compared to other food-based crops such as palm oil and soya.
Jatropha and its derivations, including jatropha biodiesel, have been under the spotlight due to their potential to solve the world’s energy crisis.
There is more than enough reason to be enthusiastic about jatropha’s potential as a biodiesel feedstock. It has been proven that the biofuel from jatropha seeds can run a diesel power engine.
China, India, Indonesia, Cambodia and Thailand are all ahead of Malaysia right from the upstream to the downstream, even coming up with the various by-products from jatropha which include soap, pig feed and medicinal drug to treat some cancer.
There is no estimate on how much jatropha is being planted or cultivated in Sarawak but anecdotal evidence suggests the trend is accelerating.
While the jatropha issue is said to have been technically solved, following the invention of technology to produce biofuel from jatropha seeds, the problem now is getting the right seeds to plant in Sarawak.
Seed quality is determined by many factors, principally purity and germination. However, many other factors such as the variety and ability to bear fruits are important when considering seed purchase for planting.
Like any crops, the choice of seed source is one of the most important decisions faced by local farmers who want to try jatropha planting. An error in judgment can lead to crops with poor growth or poor fruiting.
Within the genetic constitution of the seed is the potential for either good or poor plant growth and fruiting, and since even small increases in growth or fruiting rate can lead to a much enhanced return on investment, the advantages of using the best available seed to grow the planting stock are considerable.
Seeing the great potential of jatropha, an independent researcher Dr Elli Luhat has personally and quietly done scientific studies on seeds quality for plantations to maximise yield.
He spent nearly five years selecting a pure line of the variety from Nicaragua.
“To have goods seeds, we need to get them from a good phenotype or elite tree. This is the only thing slowing me down, otherwise why do I have to wait because jatropha is a worthy crop,” he said.
Now, Elli has successfully produced good seeds from the variety he names Jatropha Superbulk.
He said it was an elite phenotype of jatropha curcas scientifically proven suitable for Sarawak.
“Jatropha Superbulk was selected through various lengthy scientific process in plant breeding … trial planting, tree selection, tree improvement, seed orchard establishment and such like.
“Under agronomical and sivicultural practices of cropping, it produces impressively high yield on Sarawak’s soil,” he said.
Jatropha Superbulk is a fourth generation plant. Elli said from the first generation plants he grew about five years ago, he selected only the elite or the plus plants for seeds while the rest were cut down.
With second generation seedlings, he replaced the mother plants and the process went on until he got to the present generation plants which also make up his seeds orchard now.
“My selection criteria were mainly based on trees that induced early and heavy fruiting. I didn’t go into pest resistance because so far, whatever prominent plants I have are not infected by disease.”
Elli said when farmers planted the superbulk seeds, they were planting better jatropha, bred to produce a consistently good crop with strong yield potential.
Early in the breeding process, he said he had taken extra steps to check jatropha lines for uniformity of genetic traits. This approach will give superbulk growers a competitive edge in terms of yield and performance.
He believed jatropha farmers would appreciate plants from superbulk seeds, saying this had been proven on his experimental plot.
“The plants seem like they keep yielding,” he said. “The plant health is wonderful. The seed quality for my jatropha superbulk is top notch. Seems like it’s going to put more money in the farmer’s pocket.”
Due to such performance, Elli is introducing his research findings to local farmers.
“So far, I’m satisfied with the yield. Seems very consistent.”
He feels coming up with an elite phenotype of jatropha will help provide local farmers with better seeds and yields.
“I’ll never stop upgrading the process to breed better seeds,” he said.
“I feel there’re better yield capabilities out there with this elite phenotype of jatropha.”
He has about 200 plants three to four months old on the test plot and about 300 plants in his farm near Beratok, Kuching-Serian Road. About 90 per cent of the plants in his seeds orchard have borne fruits with some already harvested.
“When you harvest, you get uniform maturity. I’m very satisfied with this jatropha superbulk, and will most definitely consider increasing my percentage of seeds production in the months to come. They are consistently in the top range of flowering and fruiting.”
Elli is all alone in his research and observations of the yield benefit of his jatropha superbulk. He is also looking into producing hybrid plants through cross breeding the toxic, non-toxic and flower types which he already has in his backyard.
“I need to look at producing the dwarf variety … it’s short but able to induce early and heavy fruiting. The dwarf variety is for easy harvesting,” he said.
“I’m also looking into producing a variety that induces more female than male flowers to ensure heavy fruiting.”
On the oil content of the Jatropha Superbulk, Elli said it was not really proven yet but the length of fire flame on the seeds when burnt indicated the oil content was 35 to 40 per cent.
“The oil content in jatropha seeds is basically consistent regardless of varieties. For it be economically viable to plant, it’s most important to find ways to boost fruitings or productions.”
Elli had given talks on his findings and the potential of Jatropha Superbulk in Sarawak at the Kuala Lumpur Jatropha Summit 2008 titled “Sharing Resources Towards Sustainable Bioenergy Feedstock” on Aug 12 and 13. He was the only Malaysian speaker.
The summit held at Auditorium Technology Park Malaysia in Bukit Jalil, attracted international speakers and participants from China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines.
For professional consultation and inquiries about Jatropha Superbulk, contact Dr Elli at 013 8289795 or email: dr.elliluhat@gmail.com
Source: http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=41074
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11 Responses to “The Jatropha Superbulk”
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I attended your session in Miri months back. I had been trying to come over to your Farm location but is not able yet.
This very moment I am still in Sudan and when I take my leave in December will make an appointment to visit your facilities.
Two things I am interested in.
1. Rearing of Empurau.
2. Jatropha.
Taking no. 2 as my first choice when is the potential be ready, as yet any market known. I have put aside 6 acres of land now still with Pepper plants. I will get my Supervisor to keep in contact with you later.
3. Garu
Dr. Eli, can you write something about garu here? Have you got the seedlings for sale?
“Anggaran pengeluaran minyak: 600 – 1,000 gallons/ac./yr (6,000 – 10,000 lit/ha/yr)” – Dr. Elli
How many kilos of jatropha seeds can produce 1 liter of jatropha oil (minyak) mentioned above?
We are referring to jatropha oil (minyak) here, not the biodiesel, aren’t we?
minta penjelasan yang detail mengenai kelebihan mendapatkan benih jatropha superbulk berbanding carcus. sebab sekarang ini trend penanaman lebih kepada carcus yang didominasikan oleh sebuah syarikat di semenanjung dan ramai sudah menyertainya. adakah doc juga dapat tawarkan untuk warga sarawak ini?
Biodiesel from Jatropha is of course good alternative to fossil fuel. But before that product is achieved, massive forest, soil, land destruction were done. that will deprive people from their rice farming or any food schemes. In view of shortage of food like potatoes, rice, corn etc, i strongly urge that jatropha farming be banned in malaysia.
MANUAL OIL PRESS SUITABLE TO EXTRACT JATROPHA OIL & PALM OIL
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff206/Aubie-Auburn/JEJManualoilpress.jpg
Dear Dr. Elli,
I am very interested to find out more about the variety that you named ‘Jatropha Superbulk’. I wanted to start planting Jatropha on my small piece of land ( approx. 10 ac ) but then i have to get the right seeds to plant. Question: Do you sell seeds from your ‘Jatropha Superbulk’? How much does it cost per kg? I really appreciate your reply.
Thank you.
Andrew
How you come out with the name of Jathropa Superbulk ?What superbulk means?
Mr Elie,
I feel exulted knowing about the high yielding variety of jatropa you have. I m highly interested in planting such variety.
So please let me know more about the variety & its cosr per kg &its compatibility with Indian atmosphere .
Thanks
Where can we get jatropha soap in malaysia
Dear Dr. – i had a plot of land consisting of 160 acres ata Slim River Perak – just near Tapah Perak. I wish to plant Jetropa either JV or partially sell & JV> If Dr intrested , please do responds or call me at 019-5088625. Your kind respond is greatly appreciated.Thank u.