Title: Existing landraces of Jatropha curcas L (Physic Nut) in Nepal and Analysis of their Bio-diesel content

摘要

The aim of this work was to find the existing landraces of Jatropha curcas in different agro ecological regions of Nepal and their Bio-Diesel content. More specifically, research efforts focused on (1) existing landraces (varieties) in all three topographic regions of Nepal (2) Bio-diesel content in those varieties (3) Bio-Diesel content in varieties from Laos (4) Constraints faced by the Nepalese Jatropha grower (5) Compare the quality of Bio-diesel between the Nepalese varieties and Laos varieties. To collect all the information, Seeds were collected from Nepal (Terai: Chitwan; Hill: Palpa & Syanja; Mountain: Tanahu &Gorkha) and Vientiane province from Laos. The test of seed was conducted in the laboratory of University of Bonn. The following results were obtained:The existing landraces collected from Chitwan, Palpa, Syanja, Tanahu and Gorkha districts are Chitwan1, Palpal, Syanja1, Tanahu1, and Gorkha1 respectively have different morphological characters. Plant height, flowering time, fruit shape and size, seed weight and yields are different with in these landraces. The morphological character; which includes Number of branch/tree, Number of fruit/branch, Number of fruit/tree, Number of seed/fruit and finally Number of seeds/tree also has different in those districts.The landraces from five districts, which belong to three topographical regions in Nepal, have different biodiesel content. The highest biodiesel content found in Tanahu1 from Tanahu having 40.5% followed by Gorkha1 from Gorkha having 37.1%. The variety Palpal from Palpa comes in to third position having 35.8% biodiesel where as Syangja1 from Syangja comes in to fourth position having 33.6% biodiesel. The lowest one found in chitwani from Chitwan having 33.0% biodiesel content.The Bio-diesel content among the varieties from Laos is also different. The highest biodiesel content found on Variety India having 34.8%, followed by Mindo 34.4%. The Thai Lao comes in to third position with 31.5% and lowest biodiesel content found in Lao variety with 31.2%.The Bio-diesel fraction includes about more than 80% from unsaturated fatty acids (Oleic acids and Linoleic acids) and less than 20% from saturated fatty acids (Palmitic acids, Palmitoleic acids and Steric acids) from all Jatropha Varieties.The constraints faced by the Jatropha grower in Nepal are Lack of technical guidance and information, inadequate training facilities for acquiring skills about the Jatropha cultivation technology, lack of knowledge about the scientific cultivation of Jatropha absence of awareness of bio-diesel use of Jatropha and non-availability of oil extraction unit.