At the recent Technology Market in the Northern Mountain Provinces (Techmart Hòa Bình 2006), a particular plant caught the attention of many: the diesel tree. This type of tree not only produces bio crude oil but can also thrive in arid and barren lands, offering numerous economic benefits.
Globally, many countries have been cultivating diesel trees for quite some time, but in Vietnam, it wasn’t until 2001 that scientists from the Natural Compounds Chemistry Institute in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology) officially began researching and selecting this promising plant variety.
Versatile Growth Conditions
Dr. Lê Võ Định Tường, the author of the research, stated: “Diesel is an oilseed plant originating from Central America. In Vietnam, this plant has sporadically grown in some areas, but it has not yet formed a systematic cultivation and the varieties have not been isolated or selected.”
The diesel tree can reach heights of 1-5 meters, with a succulent stem that is highly resistant to fire, making it not only non-flammable but also suitable for use as a firebreak. Livestock and rodents are deterred by the tree’s scent, minimizing damage from these pests. The tree is resistant to pests and diseases, with a remarkable drought tolerance, capable of growing in areas receiving as little as 250mm of rainfall per year, and can survive extended dry periods of 8-9 months.
The diesel tree thrives in sandy soils and can adapt to various soil types, including rocky and saline soils. Cultivation techniques are straightforward, with the option to plant by seed or stem. To maximize land use and increase production, it can be intercropped with other crops such as ginger, turmeric, acacia, and eucalyptus.
This tree has a rapid growth cycle; it can bear fruit within a year, reach high yields in five years, and live for 50-60 years.
Currently, scientists have isolated two strains of the plant: a non-toxic strain (which can be used as livestock feed while still producing oil) and a toxic strain (specifically for oil extraction). The oil yield from these plants ranges from 31-37%, producing 1-3 tons of biodiesel per hectare.
According to Dr. Tường, oil extracted from the tree does not require complex processing and can be used directly in diesel engines without any modifications to machinery, further extending the engine’s lifespan.
Potential for Greening Barren Lands
| Main Products from the Diesel Tree: Biodiesel (1,000-3,000 liters/ha). The fruit shells, stems, and leaves can be used to produce biogas, organic fertilizer, and livestock feed for shrimp and fish. Additionally, leaves, shells, stems, roots, and extracted oil can yield various color chemicals, glycerin, and medicinal products (for laxatives, purgatives, hemorrhage control (resin), hemorrhoids, edema, snake bites (roots), and malaria (leaves)). Dried stems can be used for firewood, young shoots can be eaten as vegetables, and leaves can support silkworm cultivation. The plant can also be used for ant farming… |
According to the statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, there are over 9.3 million hectares of wasteland across the country, with 7.55 million hectares being severely affected by desertification. The remaining areas primarily consist of shifting sands, heavily eroded land, saline and alkaline soils, and seasonally or permanently arid land, along with tens of millions of hectares of economically unproductive agricultural land. Planting diesel trees on these lands can help combat soil erosion, reduce sand movement, increase environmental moisture, enhance water reserves, and significantly improve soil quality. The fallen dry leaves nourish earthworms, boosting soil humus content.
Dr. Lê Võ Định Tường further noted: “So far, we have conducted experimental production on over 30 hectares of seedlings in Nha Trang and Bình Thuận. Initially, the trees have yielded up to 10 tons of seeds per hectare, and the total seed supply here will be sufficient to cultivate over 100,000 hectares.” Based on calculations, with an average yield of about 12 tons of fruit per hectare, the diesel tree could generate an income of 30-40 million VND per year.
However, the biggest obstacle to expanding the area planted with diesel trees is the lack of funding. Therefore, scientists from the Natural Compounds Chemistry Institute in Ho Chi Minh City are hopeful for collaboration with companies and enterprises. For farmers, the institute is ready to provide seeds at low prices and guarantee product purchase, as well as offer various scales of diesel oil pressing machines from household to industrial levels.
