Pongamia pinnata

Pongamia Pinnata is a native of Indian sub-continent and has spread over to pacific and Australian continents. It has been in use traditionally as medicine, green manure, wood, fodder, and fuel and bio pesticides. In the recent times it has attracted the attention of Biofuel producers and users in the developed countries. Pongamia is a unique plant that survives a wide range of habitats ranging from saline soils at the zero msl and up to 1000 ft. msl with clay, loamy or sandy soils. Pongamia performs well at 700mm rainfall and can yield with 500mm rainfall. It does well up to 1500 mm rainfall. The tree is a legume and fixes nitrogen with symbiotic association with Rhizobium and requires low nitrogen input for commercial agriculture.

The consideration of Pongamia as an effective candidate for Biofuel is justified as it is similar in composition and contributions of Canola, Jatropha and Soya bean.  Pongamia can reduce the carbon foot print to an extant of 43% when compared to the conventional and fossil fuels. It also reduces ground water utilisation and eutrophication.