Presscake from pressing of Jatropha & its properties
If 3-4kg of Jatropha seed is pressed, it produces around 1 litre of oil and 2-3 kg of press cake (which can also be sold and improves overall economic performance of a platform). The presscake fertiliser is significantly better in Nitrogen and phosphates than cow dung, as can be seen from the table below.
|
Parameters (%) |
Jatropha presscake |
Cow dung |
Relation: Jatropha presscake/cow dung |
|
N |
5.7 - 6.48 |
2 |
280-320 % |
|
P2O5 |
2.6 - 3.1 |
1.5 |
170-200 % |
|
K2O |
0.9 - 1.0 |
2 |
43-45 % |
|
CaO |
0.6 - 0.7 |
4 |
15-16 % |
|
MgO |
1.26 - 1.34 |
1 |
126-134 % |
Source:Jatropha oil as fuel, GTZ Jatropha Energy Project, October 1995.
Therefore the platform can also support small scale gardening activities by individuals and women’s associations. This can provide fresh fruit and vegetables which greatly improve nutrition, and which can also be sold to provide income.
