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

• Main Authors: Guadalupe Pérez, Jorge Islas, Mirna Guevara, Raúl Suárez
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-10-01
• Series: Sustainability
• Subjects: <i>jatropha curcas</i>; energy crops; nontoxic ecotypes; morphological growth; oil yield; nutritional properties; soil improvement
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/20/5823

The objective of this study is to identify Mexican nontoxic ecotypes of <i>Jatropha curcas</i> 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 M&#233;xico, nine Mexican ecotypes of <i>Jatropha curcas</i> 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 <i>Jatropha curcas</i> 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.