Abstract
Jatropha curcas L. is a biofuel crop that has not lived up to expectations due to a combination of hype and
disappointment and biophysical factors. This PhD thesis is based on the plant production component of the
JARAK programme which aimed to bridge the gap between truth and fiction. This study reviewed the
jatropha hype and disappointment and further investigated the hypothesis that jatropha growth and yield are
limited by biophysical factors of plant characteristics, cropping systems, and management...