User:Serbra/sandbox

Cultivation and uses
Light and coarse textured soils are preferred by Jojoba. Good drainage and water penetration is necessary (Yermanos).It tolerates salinity and poor nutrient soils. PH should be between 5 and 8 (optimum around 7). High temperatures are tolerated by Jojoba but frost could damage or kill plants (Borlaug). Requirements are poor cause Jojoba doesn’t need a intensive cultivation. Weed problems only occour first two years and there is little damage by insects. Supplemental irrigation could maximize production if there is not enough rainfall (Yermanos). There is no need for high fertilization but specially in the first year N increases growth (Nelson). Jojoba is normally harvested by hand because not all seeds do mature in the same time. Yield is around 3,5 t/ha depending from the age of plantation (Yermanos).

Jojoba oil is interseting for industry because it is odorless and it has a viscosity wich is temperature-independent. Applications vary from engine lubrigating oil to cooking oil. Jojoba wax is predominant used for pharmaceutical compound, specially for skin products. After polimerisation factice can be used for rubber production. The use as biodiesel fuel is becoming more and more important (Lieberei).