| Abstract: | Due to the increasing wages, low profit for agricultural production, and lack of farmers in Taiwan for a long time, a lot of farm fields still remain barren. The need for effective utilization of agricultural fallow is appealing by agriculturists, foresters, conservationalists and ecologists recently.
Biomass currently accounts for about 15 per cent of the global primary energy consumption and is particularly important as an energy resource in developing countries. It will undoubtedly play an increasing role in the world's energy consumption. Although castor (Rucina communis) ? a wild plant species easily grow in dried infertile field, can it makes up this large percentage of our energy resources? Can we grow it in the barren farm to boost the levels of oil/lubricant production instead of imported oil? What impact does their cultivation have on the environment and plantation development?
This paper starts with aspects of castor cultivation, harvesting, as well as conversion technologies for biofuels as references cited. This is followed by a look at the environmental impact and economic and social dimensions, including prospects for renewable energy. We then go on to discuss the main potential energy crop- castor. For this species, we give a brief description, outlines the ecological requirements, methods of cultivation, processing and utilization, then finishes with selected references.
All those whose work involves biomass production, whether as agriculturalist, student, farmer, producer, planner or policy maker will find this paper an invaluable reference work on the plantation of fast-growing castor ? an inedible crop instead of other edible energy resources i.e., rice, corn, wheat , and potato in agricultural fallow. In general, castor is an ideal plant species for the manufacturing of vegetable oil to replace petroleum. Castor will be planting in agricultural fallow of Taichung county, Taiwan as a promising species in oil industry based on renewable biomass resources. |
