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Home , Mundara, Prosopis, Vachellia, Vachellia nilotica

SCIENTIFIC CORRESPONDENCE

Vachellia nilotica subsp. cupressiformis – status and conservation approach of an endemic agroforestry in

The arid zone of is the most fragile size, shape, branching pattern, crown in agroforestry for its ability to fix atmo- ecosystem facing extreme , erratic shape and pods. One such subspecies is spheric nitrogen and enhance ferti- and high-intensity rainfall, seasonal vari- V. nilotica subsp. cupressiformis, a native lity. It also provides complementary tree ations in climatic pattern, abundance of tree of India and Pakistan, is distributed crop interaction. Considering, the distri- solar energy and high evapotranspiration. in Punjab, Deccan and Gujarat in India. bution of V. nilotica subsp. cupressifor- The arid region is spread over 38.7 m ha, It is locally called ramkanta, ramkati mis in the semi-arid region of Pali while the semi-arid region accounts for babul, khajuria babul and kabuli kikar, Marwar, this study was conducted to 34% of the total land area. In recent dec- and belongs to family (sub- know the present status of the species ades, the semi-arid region has expanded family: ). More specifically, spread over , Rajasthan. by 10%. The newly formed semi-arid this tree is distributed in the semi-arid The survey was carried out in five region in North India alone accounts for region of Pali Marwar in Rajasthan, India. villages of Pali Marwar region (, 4% of reduction in rainfall and increased V. nilotica subsp. cupressiformis has Sonana, Mundara, Latara and Sadra), evapotranspiration have led to increased special characteristics features that dis- particularly in the farmer’s field during aridity1. Under such adverse situations, tinguished from A. nilotica. (i) Narrow 2017. The Pali region falls under rainfall traditional agroforestry plays an impor- and cypress-shaped crown, which per- zone of 400–450 mm between 25.19N tant role in providing food, fodder, , mits understory crops to utilize sunlight. lat. and 73.58E long. (260–390 m amsl). fuel, etc. and also provides security to (ii) Branches making a narrow angle In general, May and June are the hottest the local people and animals/livestock with the stem. (iii) Straight trunk and months (21–48°C), while December and during extreme conditions. The stem cylindrical (Figure 1). Thus, it ful- January are the coldest months (0–15°C) traditional agroforestry system is a per- fils all the criteria of agroforestry such as of the year. The density of is calcu- manent feature of a landscape, where leguminous tree, fast vertical growth, lated by simply counting their number in farmers without disturbing the natural narrow crown, few branches, straight and a unit area or the number of trees per tree component, integrate crops, grasses clean bole, deep taproot system, high hectare. The diameter at breast height and animals. Especially, under arid re- proportion of main stem, loose canopy (DBH; cm) was measured using a mea- gions, a clear-cut demarcation in distri- permitting transmittance of light and less suring tape. The height (m) of tree was bution of agroforestry systems based on interference with crop and adding nu- measured using an altimeter. rainfall gradient can be seen, for exam- trients to the soil. Due to these characte- Traditionally, farmers cultivate inter- ple, khejri ( cineraria)-based ristics, it is preferred on agricultural crops without disturbing the tree compo- agroforestry system performs well under lands. Therefore, in the semi-arid regions nent. The tree population was scattered 400 mm rainfall zone; Ziyphus sp. – P. of Rajasthan, it is traditionally grown over the field. Farmers carry out lopping cineraria-based agroforestry system and conserved in the farmers’ field. It is operation during winter to cater to the between 200 and 300 mm rainfall and intercropped with cluster bean and mung needs of livestock for fodder. The pre- -based system under less than bean during kharif; and bajra, wheat and liminary study indicated considerable 150 mm rainfall2. Some species are par- mustard as rabi crop depending on rain- variation in the population for all mor- ticular and unique to specific zones/areas fall in a particular year. is also phological parameters. The density of due to rainfall, soil or other microclimatic found in the silvipastoral system of was- trees/ha ranged from 5.0 ± 1.00 (Latara) factors. Such types of species are not telands. Tree is lopped for fodder during to 11.66 ± 4.72 (Nadol). However, Goyal5 found in other regions and the growth per- winter to feed goats and sheep. had reported that the density varied from formance of the species is also not assured. twigs and branches are used as fuelwood. 40 to 50 trees/ha–1; which indicates that One such endemic agroforestry species is This species has considerable importance the density of the trees has reduced in the nilotica subsp. cupressiformis (J. L. Stewart) Ali and Faruqi (Acacia nilotica subsp. cupressiformis), a sub- species of A. nilotica. A. nilotica was described by Linnaeus in 1753 and this species was often recog- nized in one or the other name up to 1920’s. Many taxonomists from different countries have taken efforts to study A. nilotica. Cooke3 thrown attention for cypress like growth characteristics of subsp. cupressiformis. Later in 1940, five varieties were recog- nized in East Africa4. A. nilotica is one of the widespread species and is presently divided into nine subspecies based on Figure 1. Vachellia nilotica subsp. cupressiformis in the agroforestry system.

CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. 120, NO. 8, 25 APRIL 2021 1293 SCIENTIFIC CORRESPONDENCE

Table 1. Morphological and pod parameters of Acacia nilotica subsp. cupressiformis in semi-arid Rajasthan, India

Pod length Pod width Pod lobe Latitude Longitude Density/ha Height (m) DBH (cm) (cm) (cm) (no.)

Nadol 25.41489°N 73.45953°E 11.66 ± 4.72 11.7 ± 3.34 29.9 ± 1.45 14.13 ± 0.99 1.5 ± 0.09 12.1 ± 1.45 Sonana 25.28491°N 73.51833°E 11.5 ± 2.12 11.0 ± 2.44 31.7 ± 4.26 16.67 ± 1.59 1.45 ± 0.07 10.9 ± 1.52 Mundara 25.19527°N 73.36134°E 11.3 ± 5.85 10.8 ± 1.68 28.2 ± 2.70 13.37 ± 1.50 1.44 ± 0.12 9.7 ± 2.00 Latara 25.14221°N 73.37096°E 5.0 ± 1.00 7.8 ± 1.80 26.5 ± 8.92 11.978 ± 1.51 1.51 ± 0.08 9.5 ± 1.35 Sadra 25.13770°N 73.35659°E 7.33 ± 3.51 6.8 ± 2.27 28.1 ± 7.98 14.31 ± 0.28 1.20 ± 0.02 9.45 ± 0.02 recent past. The conical crown naturally endemic to the semi-arid region. The 6. Devi, S. V., Singh Vishal and Datta, A., fits in agroforestry system, i.e. more grow- present study has focused on generating Electron. J. Breed., 2017, 8(4), ing space made available to a tree, less baseline data to know the present status 1077–1084. competition it faces and the faster it of this species. The study reveals that the 7. Ahlawat, S. P., Kumar, R. V. and Gupta, V. K., Ann. Arid Zone, 2017, 46(2), 189– grows. density of the trees has reduced in this 196. The clean bole height and diameter region, which may be due to increased 8. Aydai, F. E., Msanda, F., Baniaameur, F. play an important role in obtaining quality mechanization for farm activities, mor- and Mousadik, A. E. L., Int. J. Plant timber. The height of the tree ranged tality and change in cropping pattern and Breed. Genet., 2012, 4, 151–167. from 6.8 ± 2.27 m (Sadra) minimum to preference for other tree species. Many 9. Keerthika, A., Gupta, D. K., Mohamed, 11.7 ± 3.34 m (Nadol) maximum. Simi- provenance studies have been carried out M. B. N, Jangid, B. L. and Shukla, A. K., larly, DBH recorded a minimum of for A. nilotica, as it is widely distributed Int. J. Forest Usufructs Manage., 2017, 26.5 ± 8.92 cm (Latara) and a maximum in the dry tracts of India12–14. Compara- 18, 20–36. of 31.7 ± 4.26 cm (Sonana) (Table 1). tively less importance has been given to 10. Keerthika, A., Shukla, A. K., Gupta, D. The height and diameter were found to the subspecies for carrying out prove- K., Noor Mohamed, M. B., Jangid, B. L. and Singh, M., Indian J. Plant Genet. be considerably high in areas receiving nance studies or for selection of superior Resour., 2020, 33(1), 98–101. good rainfall. However, the average genotypes, which is also equally impor- 11. Gupta, D. K., Keerthika, A., Bhatt, R. K., mean height reported was 5.72 m in the tant as A. nilotica for its multifarious Shukla, A. K., Noor Mohamed, M. B. 6 A. nilotica provenance of Central India , utility. Propagation or multiplication us- and Jangid, B. L., Curr. Sci., 2017, which indicates that V. nilotica subsp. ing seedlings is absent in this region. 113(8), 1597–1600. cupressiformis can perform better in There is lack of awareness regarding the 12. Anon., Annual Report of Indian Council terms of height in semi-arid regions. The conservation of this species. Organized of Forestry Research and Education, exact age of the tree was not identifiable cultivation of this species is also lacking Dehradun, 1994. due to several reasons, viz. trees are tra- which is essential for its conservation as 13. Tewari, D. N., Provenance Trial Case ditionally grown, less awareness among it is confined to the semiarid regions of studies, Biodiversity and Forest Genetic Resources in India, 1994. farmers, and other microclimatic factors. Rajasthan. Research must be carried out 14. Ginwal, H. S., Gera, M. and Srivastava, The average height and diameter indi- on the selection of elite trees, multiplica- R. L., Ann. For., 1995, 3(1), 35–44. cated good site quality. tion of tree species via seeds or other The maximum pod length was record- vegetative means, management practices Received 25 August 2020; accepted 24 Sep- ed 16.67 ± 1.59 cm (Sonana). Although like pruning and lopping especially to tember 2020 the pod width did not record any signifi- utilize it for timber and fodder. There- cant differences, the number of pod lobes fore, it is the need of the hour to focus on 1, was recorded maximum in Nadol (12.1 conservation and preservation of V. nilo- A. KEERTHIKA * ± 1 1.45) (Figure 1). Nadol and Sonana per- tica subsp. cupressiformis. A. K. SHUKLA

2 formed better in terms of all morphologi- DIPAK KUMAR GUPTA 1 cal parameters. Similar type of studies 1. Ramarao, M. V. S., Sanjay, J., Krishnan, M. B. NOOR MOHAMED R., Mujumdar, M., Bazaz, A. and Revi, 3 for and pod parameters have been B. L. JANGID A., Theor. Appl. Climatol., 2019, 136, conducted in various provenances of A. 693–702. 1 nilotica ssp. indica in the Central and 2. Tewari, J. C., Ram, M., Roy, M. M. and ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research 7 north-western parts of India , and in Dagar, J. C., In Agroforestry Systems in Institute, Acacia tortilis spp. radiana for pod India: Livelihood Security & Ecosystem Regional Research Station, variability in South Morocco8. Fruit vari- Services (eds Dagar, J. C. et al.), Ad- Pali Marwar 306 401, India ation in Balanites roxbhurghii9 and vances in Agroforestry, 2006, pp. 155– 2ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Manilkara hexandra10 has also been re- 185. Institute, ported under arid and semi-arid regions. 3. Cooke, T., Flora of the Presidency of Gauria Karma, Wood specific gravity of V. nilotica var Bombay, 1903, vol. 1, pp. 443–444. Hazaribagh 825 405, India 4. Hill, A. F., Bot. Mus. Leafl. Harvard cupressiformis was reported to be 0.74 3ICAR-Agricultural Technology Univ., 1940, 8, 94–100. Application Research Institute, (ref. 11), which is highest among the arid 5. Goyal, R. K., Khan, M. A., Bhari, T. K., tree species studied. Pandey, C. B. and Roy, M. M., Watershed Zone II, Though V. nilotica subsp. cupressi- Management for Development of Hot Arid Jodhpur 342 005, India formis has also been reported from Pun- Zone of India, Central Arid Zone Research *For correspondence. jab and Gujarat, in Rajasthan, it is Institute, Jodhpur, India, 2013, p. 32. e-mail: [email protected]

1294 CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. 120, NO. 8, 25 APRIL 2021