Saurashtra University Re – Accredited Grade ‘B’ by NAAC (CGPA 2.93) Vegda, Vivek R., 2012, “Rediscovery and potential of Folk-Biological Knowledges as adaptive resource management of grasses in Gujarat”, thesis PhD, Saurashtra University http://etheses.saurashtrauniversity.edu/id/807 Copyright and moral rights for this thesis are retained by the author A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the Author. The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the Author When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given. Saurashtra University Theses Service http://etheses.saurashtrauniversity.edu [email protected] © The Author Rediscovery and potential of Folk-Biological Knowledge as adaptive resource management of grasses in Gujarat by Vivek R. Vegda Department of Biosciences University Campus, University Road Saurastra University Rajkot- 360 005 February – 2012 Dedicated to My Family ACKNOWLEDGEMENT It is my pleasure to record my deepest and sincere gratitude to my research guide Dr. H. A. Pandya, Department of Botany, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad for his guidance, encouragement and monumental moral support throughout the research work. I am very much thankful to Prof. and Head of the Department of Bioscience, Rajkot Prof. S.P. Singh to allow me for giving me an opportunity to carry out my research work and providing me other facilities form the department. I wish to express my profound gratitude to Dr. Y. T. Jasrai, Professor, Head, Department of Botany, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad for providing the valuable support and necessary laboratory facilities for this research investigation. I thank to Dr. A. U. Mankad and Dr. H. A. Solanki, for constant guidance and valuable discussion during the course of the work. I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to Principal of Bahauddin Science college Dr. R.P.Bhatt, Head of Biology Department Dr. Manish Jani, and my caligue Dr. Suresh Gor, Dr. Manish Visavadia, Dr. Ashok Babaria for their co- operation. I am very much thankful to forest department of Gujarat for giving permission to visit the sanctuary and national parks for the research work. I express my deep thanks to my well wishers Dr. S. C. Pant, Manisha Rajput, Nisha, Darshan, Ankit, for supporting me in my work. I am also thankful to all my friends and laboratory colleagues Pradeep, Rashmi, Milan, Munjal, Amruta, Nikunj for their valuable support during this research work. I specially thank all my family members for their blessings and support in every aspect during my research work. Finally, I thank all who helped me directly or indirectly in the completion of this thesis. Rajkot Date: Vivek R Vegda CONTENTS i) List of Tables ii) List of Appendix iii) List of Charts Chapters Page No. 1. Introduction 01-21 2. Review of Literature 22-40 3. Research Management and approaches 41-52 4. Results and Discussion 53-125 5. Conclusions and salient features 126-132 6. Bibliography and web Links 133-148 i) List of Tables: Page No. Table: 1 Distribution of grasses according to Agro-climatic zone 85 Table: 2 Grasses studied in Southern Hill 89 Table: 3: Grasses studied in Southern Gujarat 90 Table: 4: Grasses studied in Middle Gujarat 91 Table: 5: Grasses studied in North Gujarat 92 Table: 6: Grasses studied in North – West Arid 93 Table: 7: Grasses studied in North Saurastra 94 Table: 8: Grasses studied in South Saurastra 95 Table: 9: Grasses studied in The Bhal Region 96 Table: 10: Zone wise no of grass species vis-a-vis grass species utilized 97 Table: 11: Utility of grasses: Agro-Climatic zones 98 Table: 12: Different Plant part used of grass species 100 Table: 13: Grasses used in various Systems of Medicine 102 Table: 14: Categorization of respondents as per age during studies 104 Table: 15: Categorization of respondents as per the level of the knowledge about grasses and their utility during studies 104 Table: 16: Agencies working in Southern Hill: As per the respondents. 105 Table: 17: Agencies working in Southern Gujarat: As per respondents. 105 Table: 18: Agencies working in Middle Gujarat: As per the respondents. 105 Table: 19: Agencies working in North Gujarat: As per the respondents 106 Table: 20: Agencies working in North West Arid zone: as per the respondents 106 Table: 21: Agencies working in North Saurastra: As per the respondents 106 Table: 22: Agencies working in South Saurastra: As per respondents. 107 Table: 23: Agencies working in The Bhal Region: As per the respondents. 107 Table: 24 Chemical Compositions of Grasses Table – 24.1: Digestive disorder 108 Table – 24.2: Skin Disease 108 Table – 24.3: Respiratory Disorder 109 Table – 24.4: Urinary Disorder 109 Table – 24.5: Gynecological Disorder 110 Table – 24.6: Body Pain 110 Table – 24.7: Antidote 110 Table – 24.8: Throat infection 111 Table – 24.9: Body and Vigour 111 Table – 24.10: Coolants 112 Table – 24.11: Heart and Blood Diseases 112 ii) List of Appendix: Page No. Appendix: 1 Distribution of grasses: Group abundance in the Zone 113 Appendix: 2 Fodder grasses utilized in different Zones. 115 Appendix: 3 Grasses utilized as Food in different Zones. 116 Appendix: 4 Grasses utilized as Households different Zones. 116 Appendix: 5 Grasses utilized as Medicine different Zones. 117 Appendix: 6 Grasses utilized as Ornament different Zones. 117 Appendix: 7 Grasses utilized as Ecological different Zones. 118 Appendix: 8 Grasses utilized as Religious activity and Cultural celebration different Zones. 118 Appendix: 9 Overall general uses of Grasses 119 iii) List of Charts: Page No. Chart: 1 Distribution of plants habit used in traditional knowledge. 15 Chart: 2 Utilization of different plant forms 15 Chart: 3 Different Utilization of Grasses in World 16 Chart: 4 Grasses used in different diseases 19 Chart: 5 No. of species present in different Agro-climatic Zones 55 Chart: 6 Utilization of grasses Global and Local 63 Chart: 7 Zone wise no of grass species utilized 64 Chart: 8 Use of Grasses as Fodder 68 Chart: 9 Use of Grasses as Food 69 Chart: 10 Use of Grasses as Household 70 Chart: 11Use of Grasses as Medicinal 70 Chart: 12 Use of Grasses as Ornamental purpose 71 Chart: 13 Use of Grasses as Ecological 71 Chart: 14 Use of Grasses as Religious activities and Cultural celebration 72 Chart: 15 Different Plant parts of grass species used 73 Chart: 15.1 Southern Hill 73 Chart: 15.2 Southern Gujarat 73 Chart: 15.3 Middle Gujarat 74 Chart: 15.4 North Gujarat 74 Chart: 15.5 North West Arid 74 Charts: 15.6 North Saurastra 74 Chart: 15.7 South Saurastra 74 Charts: 15.8 The Bhal region 74 Chart: 16 Grasses used in different Medicinal systems 75 Rediscovery and potential of folk-biological knowledge as adaptive resource management of grasses in Gujarat 1. Introduction Knowing trees, I can understand the meaning of patience. Knowing grass, I can appreciate persistence. - Hal Borland Grasses are integral part of social, cultural, economic and ecological system of mankind since time immemorial. Undoubtedly, Poaceae forms the most fascinating families of flowering plants with a wide range of diversity and plays a significant role in the lives of human beings and animals (Mitra and Mukherjee, 2005). The value and culture of cereal grasses dates back to a period when man was emerging from wild beast stage (Gould, 1968). The members of this group are present in all conceivable habitats, suitable for the growth of plant communities and in every climatic region. Traditional Knowledge (TK), Folk Biological Knowledge (FBK), Folklore and Ethnobotany concept: Folk biology is the cognitive study of how people classify and reason about the organic world. Humans everywhere classify animals and plants into species-like groups as obvious to a modern scientist as to a Mayan Indian Community. Such groups are primary loci for thinking about biological causes and relations (Mayr, 1969). Traditional Knowledge (TK) commonly refers to knowledge associated with the environment rather than knowledge related to, for example, artworks, handicrafts, other cultural works and expressions (which tend to be considered as elements of folklore). According to experts, Traditional Knowledge (or what she calls ‘traditional environmental knowledge’) is “a body of knowledge built by a group of people through generations living in close contact with nature. It includes a system of classification, a set of empirical observations about the local environment, and a system of self- management that governs resource use” (Johnson, 1992). Introduction | 1 Rediscovery and potential of folk-biological knowledge as adaptive resource management of grasses in Gujarat Traditional Knowledge typically distinguishes one community from another. For some communities, Traditional Knowledge takes on a personal and spiritual meaning. Traditional Knowledge can also reflect a community's interests. Some communities depend on their Traditional Knowledge for survival. This is particularly true of traditional environmental knowledge, which refers to a "particular form of place-based knowledge of the diversity and interactions among plant and animal species, landforms, watercourses, and other qualities of the biophysical environment in a given place" (Pena, 2005). Within the tremendous boon of science, technology, medicine etc., there is a gradual realization all over the world that still there are so much to learn from the people who are rooted within the nature and whose sense of collectivism, respect and reciprocity with their surrounding ecosystem not yet driven by market forces or by the narrow sense of individualism and instant culture under the fashionable wave of globalization. This provides us some ground to think or rethink about the people’s belief system.