111 copyright © samriddhi, 2010-2014 S-JPSET : ISSN : 2229-7111, Vol. 6, Issue 2 Metabolism of Jatropha : A Biodiesel Plant in Relation to Four Major Types of Indian Soils as Growing Medium Sapna La'Verne *1 , P. K. Tandon 2 , and Vibhuti Rai 3 ABSTRACT Various types of soils are found in India that differs widely in their physico-chemical characteristics. Their response towards plants varies for the growth and development for example, in the Jatropha plant which is an important biodiesel plant. Experiments were carried in clay pots to study the effects of four types of soils (as growing medium) viz. Alluvial, Mountain, Desert and Red on certain metabolic parameters in Jatropha curcus plant. Lot of variations with regard to certain metabolic parameters such as concentrations of chlorophyll, carotenoid and protein along with the activities of two iron enzymes i.e. catalase and peroxidase were recorded. These are discussed in the light of metabolic activity with important results being discussed. Key words: soil types: Alluvial, Mountain, Desert and Red, Jatropha curcus, Catalase, Peroxidase, Chlorophyll, 1. INTRODUCTION M ost life on earth depends upon the soil as a direct or indirect source of food. Plants rely on soil to grow, as it is the natural medium for their growth. Soil is formed from the weathering of rocks and minerals. The surface rocks break down into smaller pieces through a process of weathering and are then mixed with biomass etc. to give it some characteristic properties. The content of soil varies in different locations and is constantly changing. Soils differ among themselves in some or all the properties depending on the differences in the genetic and environmental factors. Thus, some soils are red, some are black, some are deep and others are shallow and so on. Thus, there may be many types of soils. Each has certain characteristics including some specific colour and 1*. Sapna La'Verne, Department of Botany, University of Lucknow, Lucknow-226007, India. e-mail : sapna.laverne@rediffmail.com 2. P. K. Tandon, Department of Botany, University of Lucknow, Lucknow-226007. 3. Vibhuti Rai, Department of Geology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow-226007 composition. Different kind of soils support the growth of different types of plants and also determine how well the plant life grows. Jatropha curcus plant grows in tropical and subtropical regions. The plant can grow in waste lands and grows on almost any terrain even on gravelly, sandy or saline soil. Fig.1. Thirteen Months' old Plants of Jatropha Curcus Sown in Alluvial Soil