Site Visit- Jatropha (Biodiesel Tree) @ Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal

The WRC was part of a site visit to Owen Sithole Agricultural College in Empangeni on 21 July. This three-year project, which is funded by the WRC, deals with the cultivation of Jatropha curcas trees. The seeds of the tree have a 35% oil content and they can be used for diesel production.  The husks of the seeds can be used for cattle feed and as a fertilizer.

Representatives from the Department of Agriculture, the CSIR, DWAF and the WRC were present. Mark Gush outlined how data such as weather conditions, sap flow and heat pulse measurements were recorded.

The three major components of the project were discussed at the site:

·    Water use monitoring in Jatropha trees supported by remote automated loggers, cell phone links and timed computer download connections.

·    A national GIS assessment of areas that are suitable for economically beneficial Jatropha plantations.

·    Simulation of large scale hydrological impacts of Jatropha plantations.