Identification of Suitable Plants for Oil Production in Dependence on Climate and Soil

The type of climate in a given area determines which plant species may be grown. Climatic classifications are, therefore, very important, as they allow to predict with an acceptable approximation which crops can be introduced to a new region. The Köppen Climate Classification System is most widely used for classifying the world’s climates. Its categories are based on the annual and monthly averages of temperature and precipitation. The major oil crops require specific conditions to be successfully grown. In general, the tree oil crops are palms that need warm environment such as tropical and subtropical zones, while the grain oil crops are more diffused in temperate to continental areas. Soil quality influences the growth of oil crops to a lesser degree than climate. However, soil fertility and soil characteristics significantly affect their yield. The principal soil types are: Alfisols, Andisols, Aridosols, Entisols, Gelisols, Histosols, Inceptisols, Mollisols, Oxisols, Spodosols, Ultisols and Vertisols. Their characteristics and potential for oil plant cropping are briefly reviewed.