AGROPRODUCTIVE PROPERTIES OF Ricinus communis L. AND PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ITS OIL

Abstract

Agroproductive properties from seven accessions of R. communis L., and physical-chemical characteristics of their oil as raw matter for biodiesel, were determined. The accession SF6 had a greater number of racemes (34), number of capsules (1453), weight of the capsule per plant (1324 g), skin (69 %) and oil (48 %), but smaller size of the seed (6.8 mm of mean geometric diameter). The seeds from accession C were larger (74 g and 95 mL for 100 seeds); however, it had lower seed yield (326 g per plant). Accessions Mir and SF7 obtained the highest capsule weight per plant (1518 and 1595 g), seed (49%), seed yield (742 and 796 g) and estimated seed yield (808 and 867 kg ha^-1). In terms of physical-chemical characteristics of the castor oil, the accessions C, SF7 and M2 were within the quality standards; however, SF7 (from sites contaminated with mining residues) stood out because of its high estimated oil production (362 kg ha^-1), showing adequate physical-chemical properties for biodiesel production: relative density (0.96 g mL^-1), viscosity (410.7 cSt); refraction (1.47), iodine (83.5 g I2 100 g^-1) and saponification (184.1 mg g^-1) indexes; which make it advisable for biodiesel production