DFID DFID Natural Resources Systems Programme The Prosopis juliflora - Prosopis pallida Complex: A Monograph NM Pasiecznik With contributions from P Felker, PJC Harris, LN Harsh, G Cruz JC Tewari, K Cadoret and LJ Maldonado HDRA - the organic organisation The Prosopis juliflora - Prosopis pallida Complex: A Monograph NM Pasiecznik With contributions from P Felker, PJC Harris, LN Harsh, G Cruz JC Tewari, K Cadoret and LJ Maldonado HDRA Coventry UK 2001 organic organisation i The Prosopis juliflora - Prosopis pallida Complex: A Monograph Correct citation Pasiecznik, N.M., Felker, P., Harris, P.J.C., Harsh, L.N., Cruz, G., Tewari, J.C., Cadoret, K. and Maldonado, L.J. (2001) The Prosopis juliflora - Prosopis pallida Complex: A Monograph. HDRA, Coventry, UK. pp.172. ISBN: 0 905343 30 1 Associated publications Cadoret, K., Pasiecznik, N.M. and Harris, P.J.C. (2000) The Genus Prosopis: A Reference Database (Version 1.0): CD ROM. HDRA, Coventry, UK. ISBN 0 905343 28 X. Tewari, J.C., Harris, P.J.C, Harsh, L.N., Cadoret, K. and Pasiecznik, N.M. (2000) Managing Prosopis juliflora (Vilayati babul): A Technical Manual. CAZRI, Jodhpur, India and HDRA, Coventry, UK. 96p. ISBN 0 905343 27 1. This publication is an output from a research project funded by the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) for the benefit of developing countries. The views expressed are not necessarily those of DFID. (R7295) Forestry Research Programme. Copies of this, and associated publications are available free to people and organisations in countries eligible for UK aid, and at cost price to others. Copyright restrictions exist on the reproduction of all or part of the monograph. Requests for publications, reproduction and further information should be directed to the authors at the addresses below. PJC Harris, NM Pasiecznik HDRA Coventry CV8 3LG, UK Tel: + 44 (0) 24 7630 3517 Fax: + 44 (0) 24 7663 9229 Email: [email protected] [email protected] Front cover photographs: NM Pasiecznik, PJC Harris, G Cruz and LN Harsh © 2001 HDRA Publishing. Typesetting by Chris Brooke-Harris, Steve Wills & Steve Hammett Printed and bound by Emmerson Press, Farmer Ward Road, Kenilworth, UK ii HDRA - the The Authors The Authors NM Pasiecznik G Cruz Senior Research Associate (Agroforestry) Principal Scientist HDRA Universidad de Piura Ryton Organic Gardens Ave. Ramon Mugica, Apdo. 353 Coventry CV8 3LG Piura UK Peru Fax: +44 (0) 24 7663 9229 Fax: +51 74 308888 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] P Felker JC Tewari Scientific Advisor Senior Scientist (Silviculture) Facultad de Agronomia y Agroindustrias, Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI) University Nacional de Santiago del Estero Jodhpur 342003 Av. Belgrano Rajasthan CP 4200 Santiago del Estero India Argentina Fax: +91 291740706 Fax: +54 385 4212131 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] K Cadoret PJC Harris Overseas Research Coordinator International Research Consultant HDRA HDRA Ryton Organic Gardens Ryton Organic Gardens Coventry CV8 3LG Coventry CV8 3LG UK UK Fax: +44 7663 9229 Fax: +44 (0) 24 7663 9229 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] LJ Maldonado LN Harsh Regional Coordinator Principal Scientist (Silviculture) Fundación Produce Nuevo León AC Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI) Av. Constitución 4101, Ote. Col. Fierro Jodhpur 342003 CP 64690 Rajasthan Monterrey, Nuevo León India Mexico Fax: +91 291740706 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] organic organisation iii The Prosopis juliflora - Prosopis pallida Complex: A Monograph Acknowledgements The authors wish to thank those who have supported this of the project. Thanks are offered to you all, including: project from conception and literature gathering, to Betánia Amador, Mario Antonino, Hari Behl, Ronald reviewing, publishing and dissemination. Thanks are due to Bellefontaine, Peter Bezkorowajnyj, Eduardo Bonkoungou, the Department for International Development (DFID) of Steve Bristow, Willemine Brinkman, Yahya Bukhari, Jeff the UK government for funding the production of this and Burley, Mariano Cony, Pascal Danthu, Ian Dawson, associated publications, through the Forestry Research Prabhaker Dubey, Paul Earl, Mohammed El Fadl, Henri Programme. Esbenshade, Michael Farrar, Nicanor Herrera, Soren Hald, John Hall, Henry Le Houérou, Mario Lira, Alan Pottinger, This publication would not have been possible without the Lucy Ramírez, Gurbachan Singh, Zwege Teklehaimanot, Ray support of fellow research and development workers around Ward, Peter Wood, Sarah Workman, Noel Wright and the world, who freely supplied information, literature and Helmut Zimmermann. Sincere apologies to others who have reference lists for inclusion in the monograph and the helped but who we have not acknowledged. database. Special thanks are due to those who provided large amounts of literature or information, including: Rieks van Thanks to support staff in all collaborating institutes for their Klinken (CSIRO, Australia), Paulo Cesar Lima involvement. At HDRA, special thanks are due to computer (EMBRAPA, Brazil), John Beer (CATIE, Costa Rica), Vesa resources, finance and publishing departments. At CAZRI, Kaarakka (University of Helsinki, Finland), Yves we would like to offer thanks to the Director Dr Pratap Dommergues (CIRAD, France), Pierre Sigaud (FAO, Italy), Narain, ex-Director Dr AS Faroda and to the many staff Tony Simons (ICRAF, Kenya), Ousman Diagne (ISRA- who assisted with the workshop, technical manual and DRPF, Senegal), Carl Stoltz (PPRI, South Africa), Rod subsequent training. Thanks to Luis Alban and Nora Grados Dutton (CORD, UK), Hew Prendegast (RBG Kew, UK), at the University of Piura, Peru, and Carlos Rodriguez Colin Hughes (OFI, UK) and Mark Powell (Winrock, USA). Franco, Director of the Forestry Section at INIFAP, Mexico, and also John Palmer and Duncan Macqueen at NRIL, UK Many others assisted with provision of literature, information and Dr JS Samra, Dr GB Singh and Dr PS Pathak at ICAR, in response to specific questions, or reviews at various stages India for facilitating project activities. iv HDRA - the Foreword Foreword There is a long list of tropical tree species that have, over The genus Prosopis epitomises this dilemma. Not only does the last 30 years or so, appeared to offer outstanding solutions it include species which grow where virtually nothing else to the land use problems of the tropical and the developing will, it also produces food and a high quality wood for fuel world. Various eucalyptus, tropical and subtropical pines, and many other purposes. On the other hand its very vigour Leucaena leucocephala (‘ipil-ipil’) are just a few that have and competitiveness makes it a formidable invader of other captured the stage at different times. The enormous impacts land use systems, such as grazing lands. Furthermore, on human food security that resulted from the green movement of germplasm between countries in the past has revolution suggested to non-foresters and foresters alike that not always been well-documented, so there is often some there must be potentially similar increases in yield available doubt about the original source and sometimes even about from the identification and cultivation of hitherto little- the identity of the species concerned. known trees. A major difference between plantation and agroforestry and irrigated agriculture, of course, was that The authors of this exhaustive text on the Prosopis juliflora - there were many more species of tree than of staple food Prosopis pallida complex have produced an information source crops. A result of this has been a concentration of research which is a landmark in the clarification of many of these effort on provenance or land race selection rather than issues. No book is the final word on its subject but this one genetic improvement, with some notable exceptions. But should last a long time and provide a vital and accessible ‘miracle’ trees, as the authors of this monograph remind us, source of information for scientists, managers, farmers, have remained elusive. And introductions and trials of exotic foresters and students. As for the future of the genus and species and provenances have not only provided evidence this particular species complex, its continuing contribution of rapid growth but have also highlighted risks of them to human welfare will depend on usable knowledge and its becoming noxious weeds. There is thus a conflict between a application, which is the basis of wise management. In my tree producing biomass quickly and its potential impact on view, informed managers will be wise to have this book at other species in the farming system and in the rural their elbow. landscape. Peter Wood March 2000 organic organisation v The Prosopis juliflora - Prosopis pallida Complex: A Monograph vi HDRA - the Preface Preface Prosopis juliflora and Prosopis pallida are two of the most how and why these species were selected for special attention, economically and ecologically important tree species in arid before describing the genus Prosopis in general and its and semi-arid zones of the world. Considerable literature on relationship to humankind. Chapter two covers the these species exists in various languages, as scientific and complicated area of Prosopis taxonomy, also species popular papers, books and as ‘grey literature’, published in descriptions, biology and ecology, giving a clearer regional or less well known journals. The most complete understanding of what