Growth Parameters, Seed Characteristics and Oil Content Evaluation in different Accesions of Jatropha Curcas in Madhya Pradesh, India

India is one of the fastest growing petroleum oil consumers in the world. With the growing rate of energy consumption, and that India has only 700 million tonnes of economic reserves of crude oil left, need to reduce dependence on imports and search for better alternatives has become indispensable. The best alternatives are biofuels (biodiesel) extracted from non edible vegetable oil. Jatropha curcas has been found most promising for this purpose due to the use of its seed oil as biodiesel and other favorable attributes like hardy nature, short gestation period, adaptability in a wide range of agro-climatic conditions etc. To reduce dependence on crude oil and to achieve energy independence by the year 2012, Jatropha has been promoted under the National Biodiesel Mission in India. Recently National Biofuel Policy (Dec 2009) calls for blending at least 20 percent biofuels in diesel and petrol by 2017, apart from extending incentives to encourage its production in wastelands. Keeping above facts into consideration, a study has been conducted in 2005–06 by Tropical Forest Research Institute, Jabalpur. The objective of the study was to evaluate the growth characteristics, seed characteristics and oil content in different accessions of Jatropha curcas under tropical climate of Madhya Pradesh. The trials were established in randomized block design with three replications. Growth data was recorded regularly and statistically analyzed. The study revealed that TNMC-22, TFRI-1, TFRI-2, IGAU-1 and IGAU-2 accessions are performing better among all other accessions. This study will be helpful in the identification of potential Jatropha accessions ideally suited for biodiesel plantation programmes in central India.