There are several traditional propagation methods: direct seeding, precultivation of seedlings, transplanting ofspontaneous wild plants, and direct planting ofcuttings. What are the factors that influence the best propagation methods?

• Direct seeding. Important factors are the quality of the soil, and thus the seeding depth and quality of the seeds.

• Transplanting. This means transferring a plant from a nursery into a plantation. Here, type and length of precultivation are important plus the planting date. In practice: can a Jatropha plant, bred in a nursery in China grow well in a plantation in a different country like Laos or Indonesia?

• Cuttings. Here, the growing process starts in a nursery. As soon as the small plants or “stacks” are strong and resistant enough after a few months of growing, they are transplanted into the plantation.

Not all factors are of equal importance. The better the small plants are cultivated in the nurseries in the first 2 months, the higher the oil yields will be later on. Successful precultivation is characterized by high germination rates of seeds, irrigation, high sprouting rates of cuttings, and survival. Basing the propagation method on rainfall conditions eventually combined with irrigation in the first 2 months plays an important role in the survival of the plant in the field. There­fore, it is important to collect and analyze rainfall data for the future plantation before any investments are made.

To establish quick hedges and plantations for erosion control, directly planted cuttings are best suited.

How much space should there be between plants? Satisfactory planting widths are 2 x 2, 2.5 x 2.5, and 3 m x 3 m. This is equivalent to crop densities of 2500, 1600, and 1111 plants per hectare. Ideally, the stem of a tree should not grow vertically, but branch out quickly as soon as it comes above ground to generate as many branches and bunches of fruits as possible. This can only be realized when there is enough growing space between trees. Plants propagated by cuttings show

a lower longevity, and possess a lower drought and disease resistance, than plants propagated by seeds.

The plants set widest apart have the best vegetative development and the highest seed yields.