Review Article

A Critical Review of Croton as a Multipurpose Nonedible Tree Plant for Biodiesel Production towards Feedstock Diversification for Sustainable Energy

Table 2

Detailed properties of C. megalocarpus [36].

General informationKnown hazardsBotanical referencesCultivation details

It is a deciduous tree with a dense, spreading, rather flat crown that grows up to 35 metres in heightDry sawdust from the tree causes the irritation of the nose in addition to smoke from the wood, which also causes irritation of eyesRangeMainly found in region with average rainfall of 900–1,900 mm with dry season of about 3 to 4 months and average annual temperature of 11–26oc
Unbuttressed, cylindrical bole of up to 120 cm in diameterEast tropical AfricaFavours light, deep, and well-drained soils and the established croton plants are tolerant to the drought
It is a multipurpose tree useful to the native community in East Africa through provision of firewood, medicine, and timberEastern DR Congo, Uganda, Kenya, and southern Somalis, south to Zambia and MozambiqueIn Kenya, the seedlings reach the height of 1.7 metres with in one year, while in Rwanda, it reaches 3 metres tall within 2 years
Currently, there is interest in the large-scale planting programme majorly in Kenya and Tanzania for biofuel production as well as commercial feeds for poultry from seedsHabitatCroton trees start flowering at age of 4 years
Dominate upper-canopy tree of evergreen and semideciduous forest elevation from 700 to 2,400 metresManagement of tree is by lopping, pollarding, and coppicing
PropertiesThere are no known edible uses
It is a weed potential and has a fast growth rate