Koroch (Pongamia pinnata): A Promising Unexploited Resources for the Tropics and Subtropics

Abstract

The demand of petroleum fuel is increasing day by day. To meet up the energy demand, people of developing countries like Bangladesh basically used energy from indigenous sources, which are reducing quickly. Hence, it should be emphasized to explore unconventional fuel to overwhelm the crisis of petroleum fuels. Koroch (Pongamia pinnata L. Pierre) is a quick-growing leguminous tree that has the ability to grow on marginal land. Higher oil yield as well as physicochemical properties increases the suitability of using Pongamia as a promising substitute for supplying feedstock of biofuel production. Besides biofuel production, P. pinnata has multipurpose uses as traditional medicine to animal feed, bio-pesticides, and bio-fertilizers. A better understanding and knowledge on the ecological distribution, botanical characteristics, physiology, and mode of reproduction along with physicochemical properties, and biosynthesis of oil is essential for sustainable production of biofuel from P. pinnata. In this chapter, we discuss overall biological and physicochemical properties as well as cultivation and propagation methods that provide a fundamentals for exploiting and improving of P. pinnata as a promising renewable source of biofuel feedstock.

A critical review of Pongamia pinnata multiple applications: From land remediation and carbon sequestration to socioeconomic benefits

“…Pongamia is considered to be a maritime species as it grows naturally along riverbanks and coastal regions with its roots in fresh or salt water. It thrives in humid tropical and subtropical climates but can tolerate a wide range of climatic conditions, from light frost to up to 50 • C and between 500 and 2500 mm mean annual rainfall, requires a dry season of two to six months, and grow in altitudes up to 1200 m (Islam et al, 2021). It can grow on a broad range of soil types including rocky, heavy clay, sandy, alkaline, and saline soils (Usharani et al, 2019), however, it performs best in well drained sandy-loam soil with adequate moisture.…”

“…2c and d). It has a large network of lateral roots with a tap root which can extend up to 10 m into the soil profile (Islam et al, 2021). Detailed description of botanical characteristics have been reported (Islam et al, 2021;Orwa et al, 2009).…”

“…The ability to form symbiotic associations with soil microorganisms such as AM and rhizobia, are also vital as contaminated soils are usually deprived of nutrients (Khan, 2005). Given its relatively fast growth rates, high biomass production, vast root system, ability to grow in marginal land, and ability to form symbiotic relationships with soil organisms (Islam et al, 2021), Pongamia is a good candidate for phytoremediation. Additionally, the potential to grow a biofuel crop in degraded land considerably adds to the suitability of Pongamia as a phytoremediation tool as it would make it more economically viable.…”

“…Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre (Pongamia) is a tree which traditionally, has been used in India and neighbouring countries as a source of traditional medicines, green manure, wood, animal fodder, fuel, biopesticide, and fish poison (Islam et al, 2021). More recently, interest in Pongamia focused on its potential as a biofuel source as its seeds contain around 40% oil.…”

Variation among family of Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre for oil content and seedling growth

“…Pongamia pinnata (Pongamia) is a fast-growing, medium-sized, evergreen/ briefly deciduous, and multipurpose tree species that produces non-edible seeds [1], [2]. Traditionally, Pongamia has been employed in India and its neighboring countries as a source of traditional medicines, green manure, wood, animal feed, fuel, biopesticide, and fish poison [3]. As a fuel, Pongamia is a potential resource for sustainable aviation fuel production due to the high oil content of its seeds [4].…”