The Sustainable Cultivation of Mexican Nontoxic Jatropha Curcas to Produce Biodiesel and Food in Marginal Rural Lands

Guadalupe Pérez, Jorge Islas, Mirna Guevara and Raúl Suárez
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Guadalupe Pérez: Posgrado en Ingeniería de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Energías Renovables, Privada Xochicalco S/N, Col. Centro, Temixco, Morelos 62580, México
Jorge Islas: Instituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Privada Xochicalco S/N, Col. Centro, Temixco, Morelos 62580, México
Mirna Guevara: Instituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Privada Xochicalco S/N, Col. Centro, Temixco, Morelos 62580, México
Raúl Suárez: Instituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Privada Xochicalco S/N, Col. Centro, Temixco, Morelos 62580, México

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 20, 1-19

Abstract: The objective of this study is to identify Mexican nontoxic ecotypes of Jatropha curcas with potential for a sustainable agriculture practice to produce biodiesel and food products through a methodology and criteria of sustainability. In a rural region of Morelos state in central México, nine Mexican ecotypes of Jatropha curcas were evaluated in an experimental plantation with minimal water resources and fertilization. The experimental trial was assessed in terms of (1) toxicity, (2) growth and survival of the plants, (3) yield of seed, (4) residual biomass production, (5) oil characteristics for biodiesel production, (6) nutrimental properties of the seeds, and (7) changes in the chemical properties of the soil. Finally, two outstanding nontoxic ecotypes were identified as the most suitable for the establishment of Jatropha curcas crops to produce biodiesel and, at the same time, for food products using the de-oiled endosperm cake, for energy production from the residual biomass and for improvement of soil properties in marginal lands of rural regions of Morelos state.

Keywords: Jatropha curcas; energy crops; nontoxic ecotypes; morphological growth; oil yield; nutritional properties; soil improvement (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:20:p:5823-:d:278513

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