Agroclimatic effects over physicochemical characteristics of Moringa seed oil for biodiesel production in two subtropical sites

Moringa (Moringa oleiferaLam.) produces oily seeds considered a good biofuel source; however, little has been researched over the influence of agroclimatic data on the characteristics of Moringa oil. The objective of this work was to determine the relationships between soil and climatic conditions over the physicochemical characteristics of Moringa oil. The methodology evaluated two different sites (Sites 1 and 2) located on the eastern Mexican coast. On both sites, soil analysis was performed, and climatic conditions were recorded. Oil was extracted from the seeds, and its properties were determined by standard methods of the international union of pure and applied chemistry (IUPAC). The results indicated that oil content (OC) was higher in Site 2, which had a soil deficient in organic matter (OM), sandy texture, and slightly alkaline pH. Still, it was rich in nitrites (NO2–) and nitrates(NO3–) and received higher radiation than Site 1, which had a clay loam texture, moderately acid pH, was middle rich in OM, and reduced NO2–and NO3–soil. However, in Site 1, the acid value, peroxide, saponification, and iodine values were higher. Other variables, like kinematic viscosity (KV), refraction index (RI), and density (D), were similar between sites. We conclude that plant productivity and physicochemical characteristics of Moringa oil for biodiesel purposes benefit from a climate with high radiation and light soils rich in NO2–, NO3–, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and access to water. In contrast, heavier and acid soils are not recommended. The influence of agroclimatic factors over Moringa oil characteristics was studied.Oil fatty acid composition was determined with a gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy method.Oil content and quality benefit from light soil with high nutrients content.High radiation and water availability increase oil content in Moringa seeds.