Ricinus communis is an oleaginous plant, which has an important economic role in production of oil, for their different industrial applications. Edaphic characteristics are used to determine the viability of places be considered as suitable to obtain castor oil. The objective of this study was to determine the edaphic characteristics and oil content in Ricinus communis and evaluation of elicitation with salicylic acid (SA) Guanajuatoil variety in a plot in El Marqués, Querétaro, Mexico. The sampling was carried out in a direct way, selecting places where castor plants were found, 1.5 kg of soil was taken, also 3 clusters of castor bean in a mature state in 21 accessions. The physicochemical analyses of soil, plus oil content in seeds were determined. Finally, 300 plants of the Guanajuatoil variety were planted and elicitated with different SA concentration under greenhouse conditions, to determine oil content. The physical results indicated dark color soils, Mollisol and Vertisol type, clayey textures, clay loam, sandy clay loam and sandy loam. Soil chemical analyses showed, pH 7.22, electrical conductivity 0.52 dS m-1, organic matter 7.17%, cation exchange capacity 26.77, calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium (38.62, 6.81, 13.41, 6.97 cmol kg-1) nitrogen and phosphorus 16.32 and 54 mg kg-1 respectively. Castor oil content was higher in clayey soils (41.46%). The plants elicited with AS, oil contents between 28.99% to 52.9% were obtained with 100 and 900 µM. In conclusion, the municipality of El Marqués could be considered as a place with potential for the production of castor oil.Castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) is an oleaginous plant of economic importance due to its different industrial applications. Edaphic characteristics are used to determine the viability of places considered as suitable to obtain castor oil. The objectives of this study were to determine the edaphic characteristics and oil content of R. communis, and to evaluate elicitation with salicylic acid (SA) in El Marqués, Querétaro, Mexico. Sampling was carried out in a direct way, selecting sites where castor bean plants were found. Samples of 1.5 kg of soil were taken and 3 clusters of castor bean in a mature state were collected from 21 accessions. The physicochemical characteristics of the soil and oil content of seeds were determined. Finally, 300 plants of the Guanajuatoil variety were planted and elicitated with different SA concentrations under greenhouse conditions in order to determine oil content. The physical analysis of the soil samples indicated dark-colored soils, Mollisol and Vertisol types, with different textures: clay, clay loam, sandy clay loam and sandy loam. Soil chemical analyses showed the following soil characteristics: pH 7.22; electrical conductivity 0.52 dS m-1; organic matter 7.17%; cation exchange capacity 26.77; calcium 38.62, magnesium 6.81, sodium 13.41and potassium 6.97 cmol kg-1; and nitrogen and phosphorus contents of 16.32 and 54 mg kg-1, respectively. Castor oil content was higher in clay soils (41.46%). The plants elicited with SA presented oil contents ranging from 28.99% to 52.9%, obtained with 100 and 900 µM. In conclusion, elicitation with SA is an adequate method to increase oil content in castor bean seeds. The locality of El Marqués has good potential for the production of castor oil.