Available online at www.ijpab.com Selvan et al Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 6 (1): 1088-1092 (2018) ISSN: 2320 – 7051 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.6151 ISSN: 2320 – 7051 Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 6 (1): 1088-1092 (2018) Review Article

Prosopis juliflora – A Myth and Reality to the Current Development Scenario in

Thirunirai Selvan, R.*, K. T. Parthiban and Palanikumaran B. Forest College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Mettupalayam – 641 301 *Corresponding Author E-mail: [email protected] Received: 5.01.2018 | Revised: 11.02.2018 | Accepted: 13.02.2018

ABSTRACT Invasion of juliflora augmented positive and negative impact on rural communities of Tamil Nadu. Even though it has been introduced for soil reclamation and fire in Tamil Nadu, its spread through the deep system, high water use efficiency, Allelopathy effects have scored higher significant towards the eradication in Tamil Nadu. In the present study was to identify the spread and impacts of Prosopis juliflora on rural communities and their mythological aspects towards the Prosopis juliflora. The investigation shows that, it has dominated the drier parts of Tamil Nadu and extending towards the irrigated area because of poor management and seven myths viz., through abundant seed production, Depletes water table through Root Development, Sterility problems due to consumption of pods, Negative biotic associations, Reduce soil fertility, Allelopathy and Restricted utilization except fuelwood were identified which are prominent among the rural livelihoods and discussed briefly.

Key words: Prosopis juliflora, Invasive species, Ground water depletion, Allelopathy, Deep root.

INTRODUCTION livelihood. In the positive side, wood is a good Prosopis juliflora was declared as Royal source of fuel and charcoal, pods of this and special protection was given while species rich in sugar, protein and carbohydrate introducing into the state of Jodhpur in 1940. and act as a source for livestock populations. The main aim of the introduction of Prosopis They also fix nitrogen in the soil. Their leaf juliflora was to reclaim the saline and alkaline extracts act as the biocontrol agent. Prosopis soils and extending the utility as firewood. In juliflora reclaims the problem soils and spite of that Prosopis juliflora is used for the convert into more productive soils. Besides varied utility. In includes fuel wood, charcoal these positive impacts, it also has negligible production, light construction work, furniture negative influences on the rural livelihood. industry, Honey production, Tannin, Dye, Present study envisages the invasiveness and medicine and biocontrol agent for pest and mythological impacts of the Prosopis juliflora diseases. on society in Tamil Nadu. Prosopis juliflora has the positive as well as negative impacts on the rural

Cite this article: Selvan, T.R., Parthiban, K.T. and Palanikumaran, B., Prosopis juliflora – A Myth and

Reality to the Current Development Scenario in Tamil Nadu, Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 6(1): 1088-1092 (2018). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.6151

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Selvan et al Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 6 (1): 1088-1092 (2018) ISSN: 2320 – 7051 Invasiveness 1. Invasive species through abundant seed The origin of (Prosopis production juliflora var. juliflora) was initially introduced 2. Depletes water table through Root to Sindh province of in 185714 and Development spread to rest of the states. In 1877, Prosopis 3. Negative biotic associations juliflora seed was received and it was sown in 4. Reduce soil fertility Andra Pradesh17. In course of time, Prosopis 5. Allelopathy juliflora was introduced into Rajasthan in 1913 1. Invasive species through abundant seed (Muthana and Arora) and further seeds were production supplied to other neighbouring states for Reality introduction and cultivation. Now, it is widely Prosopis juliflora is an invasive species but distributed throughout India except Jammu not due to abundant seed production because and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and the seed production is very low in Prosopis Arunachal Pradesh. juliflora. The study by De Oliveira and Pires6 For the invasion of Prosopis juliflora, estimated that 129 mature fruits would be there are three schools of thought which produced out of 10000 Prosopis juliflora substantiate the spread and succession of flowers. It shows an efficacy of 1.29% in Prosopis juliflora in the native range as well as flower to fruit production. in the introduced geographical distribution. A long term study in northern India Three main schools of thought found P. juliflora as the pioneer species in The first is natural invasions proposed by denuded or abandoned ravines5. It proceeded ecologists2 who suggested that Prosopis to colonize rapidly, with cover increasing in created the ‘islands of succession' in the initial year two, three, four, five and ten after initial establishment in an arid land. These ‘islands’ establishment, from 1-5%, 5-15%, 10-20%, provide ameliorated conditions which aid the 20- 50% to 35-90% respectively. It dominated establishment of an increasing number of sites under severe biotic and edaphic , and the ecosystem will stabilize over conditions. time. 2. Depletes water table through Root The second sets of theories are by Development weed scientists, who state that Prosopis is just Reality: Prosopis juliflora uses the deep tap one of many weedy species that have a root to search the ground water and lateral root competitive advantage over native plants and for the use of infrequent rainfall. Due to the require eradication or control21. presence of deep tap root, the water table in The third theory states that woody the Prosopis juliflora invaded area is low as legumes have a competitive advantage only in ecosystems where soil nitrogen levels are very compared to land uses like grassland, pasture low10 and management interventions should be lands. 9 aimed at minimising the nitrogen harvested as The study by Dzikiti et al. , forage, and increasing soil fertility, which will investigates the water relations, effects of tree reduce the competitive advantage of Prosopis clearing, and the seasonal dynamics of over other species. groundwater use by an invasive Prosopis stand Mythological Impacts by comparing Prosopis stand with the cleared The prevalent myths about the Prosopis area. Transpiration rates were reduced by juliflora have created the positive and negative adopting structural and physiological impacts on rural livelihoods. In the current adaptations to the low rainfall and low water development scenario in Tamil Nadu caused holding capacity of the soils through the total eradication of Prosopis juliflora based developing narrow sapwood areas and by on the Myth without knowing its reality in closing their stomata. The trees abstracted scientific manner. The Myth and realities of groundwater as evidenced by the decline in Prosopis juliflora are discussed below. borehole water levels in the Prosopis stand Copyright © Jan.-Feb., 2018; IJPAB 1089

Selvan et al Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 6 (1): 1088-1092 (2018) ISSN: 2320 – 7051 when the trees were transpiring. Groundwater increase the rate of nest predation and (vi) savings of up to 70 m3/ month could be provide low-quality habitats achieved for each hectare of Prosopis cleared. 4. Reduce soil fertility 3. Negative biotic associations Reality Reality P. juliflora exhibits the ability to improve soils In respect to plant associations, Prosopis via biological nitrogen fixation, leaf litter juliflora has a Negative influence on Native addition and incorporation, nutrient pumping, species. Even though it has the negative effect; changes in soil structure and soil fauna and it can allow the certain species to grow in the microbial populations. It is generally accepted affinity of Prosopis invaded area. On the other that Prosopis species ameliorate the soils in hand, Prosopis juliflora has the negative which they grow although some authors note faunal associations lead to the changing of the that soils receiving P. juliflora litter are always habitat and threatening the faunal diversity. of low fertility. However, the ability of Plant association Prosopis to fix nitrogen may be severely Plant associations vary through the native reduced in highly saline or alkaline soils or range of the P. juliflora but some common where phosphorus is limiting. These results genera are observed. The native range covers a can be substantiated by the following studies. large geographical area along the Pacific coast Individual P. juliflora trees were from southern Peru to Mexico. Besides estimated to fix 31 g N/year by Diagne and Capparis spp. and Cordia spp., five woody Baker (1994), which was considered legume genera are common associates of the satisfactory, but only 5.5 g N/year by Diagne P. juliflora; Acacia, Caesalpinia, Cercidium, (1992). At a density of 400 trees/ha, these Parkinsonia and Pithecellobium. Several estimates correspond to an accumulation of species of these genera are widespread 2.2-12.4 kg N/ha/year. Aggarwal1 found no throughout the range of other American effect of P. juliflora on organic matter but Prosopis species. While Acacia spp. are found reported increases in soil microbial at all altitudes, other associated species appear populations under the crowns of P. juliflora to dominate at certain altitudes, such as trees in India. Singh18 noted significant Cercidium spp. and Parkinsonia aculeata at increases in soil carbon under a P. juliflora low altitudes and Caesalpinia spp. and plantation after 8 years, with mean soil carbon Pithecellobium spp. at higher elevations16. content increasing from 0.12% to 0.58% over Faunal association 20 years. The study by Chandrasekaran et al.4, shows Trees also appear to reduce salinity the Negative impact of P. juliflora on nesting and alkalinity in soils on which they are grown success of birds in Vettangudi Bird Sanctuary, and highly alkaline soils (pH 10) can be which comprises three village ponds, viz. neutralised by P. juliflora plantations3. P. Periya and Chinna Kollukudipatti and juliflora is tolerant to very high pH (over 10.5) Vettangudipatti in Sivagangai district, Tamil but will not grow well in soils with a pH 9 or Nadu, South India This study clearly above unless supplemented with manure and shows that the invasive tree P. juliflora poses a calcium sulphate18. Considerable research has significant threat to the nesting success of been undertaken in India on the reclamation wetland birds. The available literature on the effect over time18. P. juliflora was found to impacts of invasive plants on bird diversity improve physical and chemical properties of highlights the following facts: (i) they can soil by decreasing pH, electrical conductivity draw the birds into new areas which are and exchangeable sodium levels, and by previously unsuitable for them and expose increasing infiltration capacity, organic them to unfamiliar risk; (ii) alter local bird carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus assemblage pattern; (iii) alter prey–predator and exchangeable calcium, magnesium and interaction; (iv) change the nesting season; (v) potassium levels3. Copyright © Jan.-Feb., 2018; IJPAB 1090

Selvan et al Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 6 (1): 1088-1092 (2018) ISSN: 2320 – 7051 5. Allelopathy cannot be grown in the cultivated area where it Reality invades the native species as well. In the Prosopis juliflora has the allelopathic effect on current situation in Tamil Nadu, invasion of germination as well as in seedling Prosopis juliflora is can be managed instead of establishment. It has the autotoxic effect which total eradication. Prosopis juliflora has a affects the young Prosopis seedlings tremendous impact on the society positives establishment from the seeds. These can be and vice versa. Their benefits can be extracted proved by the following studies. with maximum utility and Negative impacts The allelopathic effects of the can be minimized through proper management Prosopis juliflora were studied by Getachew et of Prosopis juliflora. al.11, on seed germination and seedling growth of Acacia nilotica, Acacia tortilis, Cenchrus REFERENCES ciliaris and Enteropogon rupestris. Its growth 1. Aggarwal, R. K. Effect of Prosopis species characteristics and dense thicket formation on properties of arid zone soils. 1998. pp. restrict light to the ground flora and hence 27-29. In: Prosopis Species in the Arid and diminishes plant diversity. Leaf, bark and root Semi-Arid Zones of India. (Eds.) J. C. aqueous extract of P. juliflora at 0, 0.5, 0.8, 1, Tewari, N. M. Pasiecznik, L. N. Harsh and 2 and 6% were prepared and their effect P. J. C. Harris. Prosopis Society of India studied on germination percentage and and the Henry Doubleday Research seedling growth of the study plant species. Association, Coventry, UK. Germination of A. nilotica and A. tortilis was 2. Archer, S., Tree-grass dynamics in a not affected by all aqueous extracts of Prosopis thorn scrub savanna parkland - different organ parts of P. juliflora while leaf reconstructing the past and predicting the and root extracts at higher concentrations future. Ecoscience 2: 83-99 (1995). inhibited germination of C. ciliaris and E. 3. Bhojvaid, P. P., Timmer, V.R. and Singh, rupestris. Heavy accumulation of toxic G., Reclaiming sodic soils for wheat substances at under canopy soil of P. juliflora production by Prosopis juliflora (Swartz) may be one of the reasons for its invasiveness DC afforestation in India. Agroforestry and low plant diversity. Systems 34: 139- 150 (1996). Autotoxicity 4. Chandrasekaran S., K. Saraswathy, S. Autotoxicity of P. juliflora has been observed Saravanan, N. Kamaladhasan and N. Arun on seed germination and subsequent seedling Nagendran. Impact of Prosopis juliflora on development20. Lahiri and Gaur13 found nesting success of breeding wetland birds decreased shoot and particularly, root growth at Vettangudi Bird Sanctuary, South India. of a range of plants following treatment with Current Science 106: N 676 O. 5-10. P. juliflora leaf extract. Fresh leaf extracts of (2014). P. juliflora were found to have greater 5. Chinnimani, S. Ecology of succession of negative effects on germination than extracts Prosopis juliflora in the ravines of India. from stems, dry litter or fruit by 1998. pp. 21- 22. In: Prosopis Species in Sundaramoorthy et al19. the Arid and Semi-Arid Zones of India. (Eds.) J. C. Tewari, N. M. Pasiecznik, L. CONCLUSION N. Harsh and P. J. C. Harris. Prosopis Prosopis juliflora is grown in the ravine area, Society of India and the Henry Doubleday gully affected area, salt affected and alkaline Research Association, Coventry, UK. soils. It has been proven that Prosopis juliflora 6. De oliveira, V. R. and I. E. Pires. (1990) is used for the reclamation of soils and also it Pollination efficiency of P. juliflora (Sw) has the fodder value, Medicinal value and DC in Petrolina, Pernambuco. pp. 233- wood is used for the production of activated 239. In: The Current State of Knowledge carbon. Even though it has the varied utility, it Copyright © Jan.-Feb., 2018; IJPAB 1091

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