Università degli Studi di Padova Facoltà di Agraria Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Agrarie Laurea Magistrale in Scienze e Tecnologie Agrarie Jatropha curcas L., a potential bioenergy crop. On field research in Belize. Relatore: Prof. Mario Malagoli, Università degli Studi di Padova Correlatore: Dr. ir. Raymond Jongschaap, Wageningen University and Research centre, Plant Research International Laureando: Berardo da Schio Matricola n° 588712 Anno Accademico 2009/2010 If you use information from this M.Sc. dissertation document, please cite and refer to: da Schio, B., 2010. Jatropha curcas L., a potential bioenergy crop. On field research in Belize. M.Sc. dissertation. Padua University, Italy and Wageningen University and Research centre, Plant Research International, the Netherlands. “Sub umbra floreo”. National motto of Belize. Table of Contents List of Abbreviations.........................................................................................................7 Abstract............................................................................................................................11 1.Introduction..................................................................................................................13 1.1 Energy crisis and global climate...........................................................................13 1.2 Jatropha curcas L., a potential bioenergy crop....................................................18 1.2.1 Knowledge gaps in Jatropha curcas L. research..........................................28 1.2.2 Selection of knowledge gaps and justification..............................................31 1.3 Aim and objectives of the thesis...........................................................................33 2.Materials and Methods.................................................................................................35 2.1 Research at PRI Wageningen, the Netherlands.....................................................35 2.2 On field research in Belize, Central America.......................................................36 2.2.1 Climate data..................................................................................................39 2.2.2 Maya Ranch trial...........................................................................................40 2.2.3 Warrie Head trial...........................................................................................44 2.2.4 Central Farm trial..........................................................................................45 2.3 Statistical analysis.................................................................................................49 3.Results and discussions................................................................................................51 3.1 Important drivers for Jatropha curcas L. growth and development and how are these for Belize...........................................................................................................51 3.1.1 Radiation and light interception....................................................................51 3.1.2 Temperature...................................................................................................52 3.1.3 Water.............................................................................................................53 3.1.4 Vapour pressure and wind speed...................................................................53 3.2 Response of genetically different accessions to available resources in Belize.....55 3.2.1 Seed dimension and weight...........................................................................55 3.2.2 Seed germination rate....................................................................................58 3.2.3 Biomass development at nursery stage: LA, fresh weight, taproot length....60 Table of Contents 3.3 Resources use efficiency and optimization for jatropha crop conditions in Belize.. .....................................................................................................................................63 3.3.1 Plant density..................................................................................................63 3.3.2 Plant spacing.................................................................................................64 3.3.3 Crop management.........................................................................................71 3.4 Discussions...........................................................................................................80 4.Conclusions..................................................................................................................85 5.Acknowledgements......................................................................................................89 Annex 1. Growth parameters and sustainability indicators tables...................................91 Annex 2. Experimental designs.......................................................................................99 References.....................................................................................................................107 6 List of Abbreviations AET............... Actual Evapo-Transpiration aft. ….............after (in Annex 1) agr. …............ agricultural (in Annex 1) BNMS............Belize National Meteorological Service BT.................. Bullet Tree CBD...............Convention on Biological Diversity CDM..............Clean Development Mechanism CF.................. Central Farm COCyTECH.. Consejo de Ciencia y Tecnología comm. …....... communication DM................ Dry matter DMA............. Dry matter assignment EEP................ Energy and Environment Partnership EM................. Effective Micro-organisms ERA-ARD..... Agricultural Research for Development; Dimension of the European Research Area EU..................European Union FACT............. Fuel on Agricultural Common Technology FAO............... Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations GHG.............. Greenhouse gases GUARD.........Galen University – Applied Research and Development for Sustainability Institute HI...................Harvest index IEA................ International Energy Agency IPCC.............. International Panel on Climate Change JC................... Jatropha curcas L. (in Annex 1) LA..................Leaf Area LAI................ Leaf Area Index LCA............... Life Cycle Analysis MR.................Maya Ranch NBS............... Nucleotide Binding Site NGO.............. Non Governmental Organization List of Abbreviations OAS...............Organization of the American States OM.................Organic Matter PET................ Potential Evapo-Transpiration pm..................parameter (in Annex 1) PRI.................Plant Research International PS...................Production system (in Annex 1) T,M,B.............Top, Middle, Bottom branches (in Annex 1) TSDF..............Tropical Studies and Development Foundation UB................. University of Belize UNEP.............United Nations Environment Programme UNDP.............United Nations Development Programme UNFCCC.......United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change USD............... United States Dollar WH................ Warrie Head WUR..............Wageningen University and Research centre 8 Ai miei genitori, e ai miei nonni. Abstract Potentials of bioenergy crop Jatropha curcas L. are investigated through field trials in Cayo District, Belize, Central America. Crop growth and development are monitored in two jatropha plantations of one and six years, respectively in Warrie Head and Maya Ranch. A third plantation is set up in Central Farm, in the framework of the '1 st Coordinated Call for a Transnational Research Activity under the ERA-ARD Net: Bioenergy – an opportunity or threat for the rural poor', in the project 'Bioenergy in Africa and Central America – Opportunities and Risks of Jatropha and Related Crops'. Biomass development is assessed through measurements of dry fruit yield, LAI development, length of effective branch, seed dimensions and weight, fruit to seed ratio and seed to kernel ratio and seed germination test in relation to different crop variables, according to the different trials: management, such as pruning and cropping system (monoculture, intercropping and living fence), genotype, plant spacing and plant density. Outputs on biomass development are linked with weather variables data, kindly provided by the National Meteorological and Hydrological service of Belize. Results indicate that Jatropha curcas L. has promising potentials to play a decisive role in bioenergy scenario in Belize and the Region, for the favourable pedoclimatic situation and the availability of genetic resources. Key words: Jatropha curcas L. – Biofuels – LAI development – Belize – Tropical agriculture. Riassunto Il potenziale della coltura energetica Jatropha curcas L. viene investigato in prove di campo nel Distretto di Cayo, Belize, America Centrale. La crescita e lo sviluppo della coltura vengono monitorati in due piantagioni di uno e sei anni, rispettivamente a Warrie Head e a Maya Ranch. Una terza piantagione viene messa a dimora a Central Farm, nel contesto della '1 st Coordinated Call for a Transnational Research Activity under the ERA-ARD Net: Bioenergy – an opportunity or threat for the rural poor', nel progetto 'Bioenergy in Africa and Central America – Opportunities and Risks of Abstract Jatropha and Related Crops'. Lo sviluppo della biomassa