A Comparison of Two Methodological Approaches for Determining Castor Bean Suitability in Chile

Abstract

Castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) contains ricinoleic acid, making it one of the world’s most important oil-seeds. There are few studies on this species in Chile, despite its potential as an industrial crop. This study evaluated two methodologies (simplistic and presence-species) for determining the aptitude of land for growing castor beans, both of which use climatic information. The simplistic and presence-species methodologies identified 27.89 and 13.19 million ha, respectively. The most important difference between both methodologies was that the mean minimum annual temperature (TNA) was −8.0 °C in the simplistic method, meaning that some areas in the southernmost regions of Chile (Aysén and Magallanes) should be able to grow the plant. Therefore, TNA = 8.0 °C was selected, and the zonation by simplistic methodology was updated. Consequently, both zonations showed similar results, although the presence-species method included northern coastlines, precisely where castor bean has been recorded, while the simplistic method did not. Finally, both methodologies determined the best condition to be central-south Chile, between the Maule and Araucanía regions, even though castor bean presence has only been recorded up to the Maule region. These regions have a huge potential to establish castor beans, but more information about agronomic practices is necessary for its development in Chile.