Jojoba Management
History
The Jojoba plant (Simmondsia chinensis) is an evergreen Shrub originally found in the extreme climate of the southwest United States and Mexico. The native indians of the Sonora desert traditionally used it for medicinal purposes. The meal obtained from grinding its seeds would be applied over scratches and opened cuts in order to accelerate healing and reduce scaring.
The Jojoba shrubs, which grow wild in the area of origin, can live up to 100 years and grow up to three meters tall. The plants are not poisonous and can resist drought. They grow in nutrient poor soils, require little water and are resistant to salts.
Responsible in Preventing Land Loss
and Sensible Water Management
Most of Desert King’s jojoba comes from Peruvian plantations situated in an area that was once made up of sand dunes. These were ecosystems of poor species, only certain plants survived. There were no forests, no bushes, only sand. Almost no plants were found, just a few animals. Jojoba is not native to Peru, but adapts very well to semi-arid regions. It develops long roots which are deeply embedded in the soil. Thus the jojoba hedges act as windbreakers, preventing wind erosion and stopping sand from drifting. It also prevents desertification of adjacent areas i.e. re-vegetation of the desert. This has been done in a very responsible manner because the jojoba plant is adapted to live in comparable climates and in this case, less irrigation is needed.
Properties of Jojoba
In order to survive the dry and windy conditions of the Sonora desert, the jojoba plant has developed a perfect system for protecting itself from dehydration. Its leaves and seeds produce wax esters that resist oxidation and store humidity without being occlusive. These excellent smoothing and hydrating properties, together with its oxidative stability, have made jojoba one of the best lipid materials used in the cosmetic industry today.