Agrotechnology, production, and demonstration of high-quality planting material for biofuels in arid and semiarid regions

Abstract

Several plant families widely growing in Rajasthan have great potential as renewable source of energy. Euphorbiaceae (Euphorbia antisyphilitica, E. tithymaloides, E. caducifolia, E. lathyris, E. neriifolia, Jatropha curcas, etc.), Asclepiadaceae (Calotropis gigantea and C. procera), Asteraceae, and Apocynaceae have a large number of valuable plants. These plants are able to grow well in arid and semiarid conditions of Rajasthan. We developed agrotechnology for some of these plants and suggested a three-tier system for optimum production of biomass. Influence of growth regulators, edaphic factors, cropping pattern, and nutritional factors have been optimized. The biofuel yield could be increased by employing technologies developed at University of Rajasthan, Jaipur. Production of high-quality plant material of Jatropha curcas was carried out at 35 ha Energy Plantation Demonstration Project Center, University of Rajasthan, under the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India project sanctioned to authors. The selected plant materials were characterized for their hydrocarbon and oil contents. High-yielding accessions of Jatropha curcas have been deposited at the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi. Accession IC565601 and IC565602 have been planted at Viratnagar near Jaipur. Elite strains have given excellent performance depending on edaphic, climatic, and nutritional conditions. This paper will try to review mainly our own work carried during last 30 years giving citations.