Article

Beyond water-intensive agriculture: Expansion of Prosopis juliflora and its growing economic use in Tamil Nadu, India

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Abstract

Against the backdrop of expanding commercial crop markets and private well expansion, market-oriented agriculture has developed in villages with access to abundant water resources in Tamil Nadu, India. On the other hands, the villages that have failed to secure sufficient irrigation water have experienced sharp decline in cropping. Such land has been rapidly invaded by Prosopis juliflora, a tree species that has wide adaptability of the different environments and high coppicing ability. This species has traditionally been harvested as a fuel for domestic use and small-scale businesses, and recognised as "a tree for the poor". However, since the establishment of the electricity act in 2003, which completely deregulated participation of private companies in the electricity generation industry, the new usage of Prosopis has been created: several small-scale electricity generating plants began to utilise this tree as an energy source. As a result, the demand for Prosopis tree rapidly increased and the real price of raw wood has more than doubled between 2003 and 2009. A census survey of household income revealed that income generated from Prosopis expansion compensated for the decrease of cropping, and contributed to an increase in the net household income, especially for the landless labourers and middle class land holders. This fact indicates that it is possible to reduce poverty in a semi-arid rural area without securing additional irrigation water, in case proper institutions and technologies are in place.

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... All over the world, chemical and biological methods are being developed to control invasion of P. juliflora (McConnachie et al. 2012;Sato 2013). But, the methods are not only expensive, but also ineffective (Wise, van Wilgen, and Le Maitre 2012;Sato 2013;Wakie et al. 2016). ...
... All over the world, chemical and biological methods are being developed to control invasion of P. juliflora (McConnachie et al. 2012;Sato 2013). But, the methods are not only expensive, but also ineffective (Wise, van Wilgen, and Le Maitre 2012;Sato 2013;Wakie et al. 2016). Therefore, several developing countries like India, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Kenya (Gupta 1985;Tessema 2012;Sato 2013;Onekon and Kipchirchir 2016) prefer to control P. juliflora through different uses, because they create new income avenues to low-income groups of people. ...
... But, the methods are not only expensive, but also ineffective (Wise, van Wilgen, and Le Maitre 2012;Sato 2013;Wakie et al. 2016). Therefore, several developing countries like India, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Kenya (Gupta 1985;Tessema 2012;Sato 2013;Onekon and Kipchirchir 2016) prefer to control P. juliflora through different uses, because they create new income avenues to low-income groups of people. In the present study, the charcoal making using indigenous knowledge is the most profitable, hence suitable enterprise for controlling invasion of P. juliflora in the Desert. ...
Article
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Prosopis juliflora (Swartz) DC., an invasive alien plant species, is known as a threat to biodiversity and ecosystem services world over. It has heavily invaded community grazing lands (CGLs) in the Indian Thar Desert. The present study reports effects of four canopy sizes, (i.e. small, medium, large and no-canopy/open plot), of P. julflora shrub on native vegetation and soil fertility (0–20 cm depth) in the CGLs distributed in Jodhpur, Pali, and Sirohi districts in the Desert. In addition, economic profitability of P. juliflora based three enterprises, (i.e. charcoal making, pod-flour making, and sheep rearing in the grasslands if developed in the CGLs), was evaluated to find out invasion control measures of the shrub through utilization. Soil organic carbon (SOC), total N, available P and K, and mineral N (NO3⁻–N, NH4⁺–N) and soil-moisture contents were higher under the shrub canopy than in open plot; and they were the highest under the large and lowest under the small canopy sizes. But, light intensity (Lux) declined under the canopy. The decline, however, was the highest under the large and lowest under the small canopy sizes. Composition of native plant species changed and their richness and diversity declined under the canopy, but was higher under the larger canopy size. Economic analyses revealed that investment was the highest (5476USha1)inthecharcoalandlowest(486US ha⁻¹) in the charcoal and lowest (486US ha⁻¹) in pod-flour enterprise, but gross profit and net present value (NPV) were the highest (10740USha1and5264US ha⁻¹ and 5264US ha⁻¹, respectively) in the charcoal and lowest (895USha1and409US ha⁻¹ and 409US ha⁻¹, respectively) in pod-flour enterprise. Other economic parameters, like the annuity and internal rate of return (IRR), were also the highest in the charcoal and lowest in pod-flour enterprise suggesting that the charcoal enterprise is economically the most profitable enterprise; and it may control the invasion of the P. juliflora in the Desert.
... In its native range, the species is exploited for human food, animal feed, medicine, timber, honey and energy products (Pasiecznik et al., 2001;Felker, 2005). In India, the species is grown for firewood, charcoal, and generating electric power (Gupta, 1985;Sato, 2013). The species has potential as an agroforestry plant (Singh, 1995), and as a biotic carbon pool (Geesing et al., 2000). ...
... The negative impacts of P. juliflora include loss of biodiversity (Schachtschneider and February, 2013), reduction of water resources (G€ orges and Willgen, 2004;Scott et al., 2006), degradation and loss of rangelands and farmlands (Zimmermann et al., 2006), mortality and decreased livestock health due to high intake of toxic seed pods 1 (Tabosa et al., 2006;Admasu, 2008), and high clearing costs on farmlands and rangelands (McConnachie et al., 2012). Efforts to control Prosopis species around the world, particularly by mechanical and chemical means, have been expensive and ineffective (McConnachie et al., 2012;Sato, 2013). As a result strategies that aim to minimize costs and maximize economic benefits are being sought in several developing countries. ...
... While much of the management emphasis on invasive species might be oriented towards eradication, people in developing countries have generated new incomes by exploiting the invasive P. juliflora trees. Rural households in developing countries have increased their average income by growing and managing P. juliflora trees for wood energy (e.g., Sato, 2013). Common P. juliflora control and management practices include burning, digging out stumps, thinning, pruning, and harvesting (Pasiecznik et al., 2001;Njoroge et al., 2012;Wakie et al., in press). ...
... The plant's beneficial qualities include the control of soil erosion, provision of shade, fuelwood, source of building materials, and pods for animal and human consumption in arid and semi-arid areas. Additionally, P. juliflora has been known to enhance soil fertility (Singh and Shukla, 2012) and serves as a cheap source of firewood, human food, animal feed, medicine, timber, honey, among other benefits in Kenya (Sato, 2013). These clear economic uses are contrasted by the negative consequences which Prosopis juliflora invasion poses, which results to a conflict of interest in the view of the species. ...
... There is therefore a felt need by the communities in Prosopis infested areas to disregard its negative impacts and capitalize on its benefits. Efforts have been made in different parts of the world to eradicate the species by mechanical, chemical, and biological (seed feeding beetles) methods, but these methods have been found expensive and ineffective (McConnachie et al., 2012;Sato, 2013). Therefore, utilization enterprises are advocated to be the best options to control the species from invasion as they provide employment to low-income groups of people in developing countries (Borokini and Babalola, 2012;Wakie et al., 2016). ...
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Prosopis juliflora was introduced in Baringo County in the Rift valley, Kenya as a shrub species to rehabilitate the denuded dry lands. It became invasive and spread to other pastoralist areas in Kenya, including Magadi region thereby competing and replacing other vegetation types. Past research has however shown that its pods have proven qualities for use as animal feedstuff. This study was undertaken with the objective of establishing whether Prosopis juliflora pods in the drylands of Magadi area in Kajiado County was in sufficient quantities for production of animal feeds. Pods were collected and weighed once a week in randomly selected and fenced 30 x 30-meter plots in the Nguruman escarpment and the Olkiramatian floodplains. Three categories of plots based on plant density were marked out as dense, moderate and sparse respectively. Half of the dense plots had their Prosopis trees pruned and thinned to allow spacing of five meters (managed dense). Weekly collection and weighing of pods was carried out for a period of ten months including one wet season and two dry seasons. The managed dense, unmanaged dense, moderate and sparse plots yielded 44.3 tonnes per hectare (tha-1,) 24.5 tha-1, 15.4 tha-1 and 1.3 tha-1 in Nguruman escarpment and 9.3 tha-1, 17.6 tha-1, 1.5 tha-1 and 0.2 tha-1 in the Olkiramatian floodplains respectively. The management practice of pruning and spacing increased pod yield production in the well-watered escarpment landscape. The lowest and highest pod yields were recorded during the dry season and the rainy season respectively. The results showed that the dense unmanaged plots in the lowland landscapes had higher pod yields when compared to the managed dense plots in the escarpment landscape. Variation in pod yields was analyzed using Genstat 14th edition. The results from this study found that the managed Prosopis stands located in the escarpment landscape could sustain commercial Prosopis based animal feeds production.
... Functional tanks provide water for domestic uses, improve food security, and benefit a diverse group of stakeholders. As the water provisioning capacity of tanks has declined, many farmers have abandoned tank agriculture due to labor costs and lower profits (Sato, 2013). Indeed, lack of access to irrigation water has strongly influenced both short and long-term migration from dry lands in India (Shah, 2010), and contributes to ongoing statewide trends in rural-urban migration . ...
... The mesquite plant, Prosopis juliflora, was introduced by the Indian government in 1870s to help meet fuel wood needs of the region (Singh & Singh, 1993). Due to a combination of drought tolerance and seed dispersal in livestock dung, P. juliflora has spread across Tamil Nadu, and its use as a fuel for household use and electricity generation provides an important source of income (Sato, 2013). However, P. juliflora also has extensive root systems that increase evaporative losses and reduce tank inflow once it has invaded tanks and feeder channels (Fig. 2a). ...
Article
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Rainwater-harvesting tanks (reservoirs) in Tamil Nadu, India support agricultural livelihoods, mitigate water insecurity, and enable ecosystem services. However, many tanks have fallen into disrepair, as private wells have supplanted collectively managed tanks as the dominant irrigation source. Meanwhile, encroachment by peri-urban development, landless farmers, and Prosopis juliflora has reduced inflow and tank capacity. This exploratory study presents a conceptual framework and proposed indicator set for measuring water security in the context of rainwater harvesting tanks. The primary benefits of tanks and threats to their functionality are profiled as a precursor to construction of a causal network of water security. The causal network identifies the key components, causal linkages, and outcomes of water security processes, and is used to derive a suite of indicators that reflect the multiple economic and socio-ecological uses of tanks. Recommendations are provided for future research and data collection to operationalize the indicators to support planning and assessing the effectiveness of tank rehabilitation.
... Prosopis was introduced to Sudan in the early 19 th century to combat desertification and as a source of fuel wood (Elfadl and Luukkanen, 2006). It was introduced to India by the end of the 20 th century to recover salt and sodic-affected lands besides the need of the species for fuel wood, fiber and timber (Mishra et al., 2003;Sharma and Dakshini, 1998;Sato, 2013), and into the United Arab Emirates during the 1970s to combat desertification Al-Rawai, 2007, andHowari et al., 2022). Similarly, it was introduced to Djibouti in the 1950s for shade and shelter and as a street tree in many towns. ...
Article
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Introduction Prosopis juliflora has posed a severe threat to human and animal life in arid and semi-arid areas of the world. Thus, this review intends to shed light on the potential use of Prosopis as a helpful resource and feasible management system. Methods This research employs a systematic review methodology. Results The review revealed that the species had been introduced to overcome deforestation and desertification. Prosopis juliflora has had different socioeconomic and environmental impacts on local communities. The most widely cited adverse impacts include out-competing native species and quickly reducing forage plants, being a harbour for predators, health problems and death of domestic animals, and being an ideal ground for mosquito breeding. On the other hand, the species provides multiple ecosystem services like the provision of construction materials, animal feed and charcoal; plays a role in soil conservation and rehabilitation of degraded and saline soils, good sources of nectar for honey production; contributes to reducing dust pollution; enhances carbon sequestration, and have medicinal value due to its antifungal and antibacterial features. The local community’s attitude regarding the species is mixed. Discussion The consequent negative impacts are increasing quickly, making the urgent need to develop robust and practical management strategies necessary to both mitigate the adverse effects and fully use the benefits. Commercialization (with a notion of management through utilization) is a feasible way to minimize expansion. Cross-boundary endeavours for controlling Prosopis juliflora expansion to new regions, particularly in countries predicted as edges of high potential invasion, are required to manage the species invasion efficiently.
... Prosopis juliflora (PJ) plants are prevalent in many areas. At the same time, it is difficult to grow crops since they take water and nutrients from the soil, rendering them unusable [7,8]. Many studies are conducted to determine the best ways to utilise these plants for diverse applications. ...
Article
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Prosopis juliflora (PJ) fibre-reinforced polymer composites are fabricated with fly ash and SiC as fillers with different weight percentages. Jute layers are also sandwiched for added strength in the structure. The wear behaviour is found for the prepared composition of samples. Pin-on-disc wear testing apparatus is used for the wear performance along with the design of experiments approach using orthogonal arrays of Taguchi’s. The effect of the input parameters (load, sliding velocity, speed) is studied on wear resistance. The experimental design creates sliding wear evaluations based on Taguchi’s L9 orthogonal array to identify the most dominating factors influencing the wear rate. This study demonstrates that the most important component affecting the sliding wear rate of the composite materials is followed by the sliding velocity, speed, and load. The result of the wear rate decreases with an increase in filler content and also increases with sliding velocity. The samples with fly ash and SiC fillers reportedly seemed to have the best wear rates.
... Since they will not cut the trees till the root level, villagers are allowed to dig it for their household fuel wood consumption. According to the villagers, matured tree roots are very tough to remove but very helpful to reduce their fuel wood cost (Kaul, 2000;Sato, 2013;Bitterman 2016). Out of 495 households, in Karaipoondi only 60 are having LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) connections. ...
Chapter
The idea of this book series is for the scientists, scholars, engineers and students from the Universities all around the world and the industry to present ongoing research activities, and hence to foster research relations between the Universities and the industry. The purpose of this book is to provide a focal forum to share the latest research findings, knowledge, opinions, suggestions, and vision, while also providing a variety of interactive platforms in the field of Social Science. The content of the book is as follows.
... Moreover, when considering other biodiesel feedstocks, issues such as land usage and the need for irrigation facilities come into play. In the case of PJ, its ability to thrive in arid and semi-arid climates without competing for land used by food crops makes it a suitable choice [26] [27]. Its fast growth and spread in such conditions make it an ideal option for regions where traditional crops may not flourish. ...
Article
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The purpose of this research is to look at performance and emission characteristics of Ethiopian Prosopis Juliflora biodiesel (JFB) blended with diethyl ether (DEE) additive in varying proportions. The experiment includes testing different biodiesel blends and DEE additive concentrations, namely D100, B100, B20DEE5, B20DEE10, B20DEE15, and B20DEE20. FT-IR (Fourier transform infra-red) analysis was employed to investigate whether necessary functional groups for a biodiesel were present. Rheometer analysis was employed to investigate how shear rate and temperature affect the shear stress and viscosity of blended fuels employed. Results show that D100 exhibits the highest brake thermal efficiency (BTE) across the load range, while B100 has the lowest. Although DEE blended fuels have lower BTE than diesel, the results are comparable. Notably, at 50% load, B20DEE10 achieves a BTE of 31.4%, closer to D100 at 36.7%. Brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) decreases as load increases up to 50%. While BSFC for JFB, B20, and blended fuels is higher than D100 across all engine loads, B20DEE10 shows a comparable result of 203g/kWh versus 181g/kWh for D100 at 50% load. Emission levels for CO 2 , HC, and CO are higher for diesel compared to blended fuels, with NOx being lower for D100 and all DEE blended fuels. DEE's higher Cetane rating and latent heat of evaporation along with shorter ignition time and faster heat release rate seems to result in lower NOx emissions, especially for medium to higher loads,. At full load, B20DEE10 exhibits the lowest smoke opacity value. Additionally, FT-IR analyses confirm the presence of necessary functional groups in biodiesel and the rheological analysis shows a decrease in viscosity with increasing temperature and a shear-thinning behavior for JFB across a range of shear rates with a viscosity ranging from 203.4 to 47.5 mPa.s, with a shear rate range of 10-150 s-1. 2 | P a g e Nomenclature BSFC Brake specific fuel consumption BSEC Brake specific energy consumption BTE Brake thermal efficiency BP Brake power PM Particulate matter DEE Diethyl ether UHC Unburned hydro carbon CI Compression ignition PJ Prosopis juliflora PJB Prosopis juliflora biodiesel HRR Heat release rate EGT Exhaust gas temperature CIB Calophyllum inophyllum biodiesel MPa.S Mega Pascal second MCR Modular compact Rheometer HC Hydrocarbon NMR Nuclear magnetic resonance 3 | P a g e FT-IR Fourier transform infrared GC-MS Gas chromatography mass spectrum AAU Addis Ababa University AASTU Addis Ababa science and technology university ASTM American standard testing and measuring FFA Free fatty acid PPM Parts per million FG Functional group FAME Fatty acid methyl ester MJ Mega joule PJF Prosopis juliflora fruit
... Therefore, Prosopis is considered the worst invasive plant (Al-Humaid and Warrag 1998; Shackleton et al. 2014) and one of the world's 100 most dominant invasive species (Lowe et al. 2000). The spread of these species' invasion is a global concern due to its influence on water resources and the ecosystems of grassland and woodland environments they have invaded (Ayanu et al. 2015;Sato 2013). ...
Article
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Coastal wetland ecosystems support a wide range of native species; however, they are currently threatened by invasive plant species. The Point Calimere Ramsar Site, located in India, contains coastal tropical dry evergreen forests, coastal grasslands, and mangroves that are now threatened by the invasion of Prosopis species. Consequently, several birds, mammals, and amphibians that depend on these habitats are also at risk. Therefore, tracking and monitoring invasive species is required for restoring wetland ecosystems and preventing further invasions. The present study investigated multi-season Sentinel-2 Spectral Temporal Metrics (STM) for mapping coastal native and non-native vegetation communities using summer, monsoon, and post-monsoon season datasets with Support Vector Machine (SVM) classification on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. The results show that a combination of summer and post-monsoon Sentinel-2 spectral-temporal metrics produced the best accuracy (Overall accuracy—94%) for mapping Prosopis, tropical dry evergreen forests, and coastal grasslands, while the monsoon dataset produced the best results for mapping mangroves. However, the entire season’s spectral temporal metrics produced the best average results for all land cover classes. We also analyzed the distribution and fragmentation of Prosopis in the various landscapes of the Ramsar site using Fragstats. Our findings showed that Prosopis is extensively distributed in the Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary, posing a significant threat to the wildlife that resides there. We anticipate that our map will be used for the ongoing Prosopis clearance in our study site, and our study provides a comprehensive application for monitoring Prosopis and native vegetation in coastal tropical wetland habitats using Sentinel-2 STM.
... Diesel engines have gained widespread usage across diverse sectors like agriculture, transportation, and emergency power generation, particularly in regions where access to grid electricity is limited. The extensive adoption of these engines can be attributed to their exceptional thermal efficiency, dependability, and ease of maintenance [1]. In an effort to decrease the reliance on imported petroleum products, the Indian government has introduced a national biofuel policy. ...
Article
The research primarily focuses on investigating the impact of hydrogen induction on the parameters of a compression ignition (CI) engine utilizing biodiesel blended with decanol, up to knock limit. The utilization of non-edible oil, exemplified by Prosopis Juliflora seed oil (JFO), presents inherent challenges due to its elevated viscosity, limited atomization, and suboptimal combustion attributes. However, the conversion of JFO into Prosopis Juliflora methyl ester (JFME) biodiesel substantially ameliorates its fuel characteristics, although it still exhibits relatively lower performance in comparison to conventional diesel fuel. To enhance the attributes of JFME blends, decanol is mixed with 20 % on volumetric basis (referred to as D20). Furthermore, the introduction of hydrogen into the engine's intake manifold is employed to bolster performance and curtail emissions. Different hydrogen flow rates, spanning from 2.5 to 10 litres per minute (lpm), are assessed in conjunction with the D20 biodiesel blend. The inclusion of hydrogen into D20 blends yields an enhancement in brake thermal efficiency (BTE), coupled with reductions in hydrocarbon (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), and smoke emissions. However, it should be noted that hydrogen's notable flame velocity and higher calorific value engender escalated combustion temperatures and an associated rise in Nitric oxide (NO) emission. The research also encompasses an evaluation of engine vibration during dual-fuel operation, revealing a proportional increase in engine vibration with heightened rates of hydrogen induction. In summation, the utilization of D20 in conjunction with hydrogen at a rate of 10 lpm emerges as a viable approach for operating diesel engines in a dual-fuel mode.
... These PJ fibers are utilized in composites for various applications. [5][6][7][8][9][10] . The powdered thorns of PJ are reinforced with discarded plastics to make polymer epoxy composites. ...
Article
The mechanical and wear behavior of agro waste thorn ( Prosopis juliflora [PJ]) derived as a nanoparticle with different weight compositions (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 wt.%) reinforced in an epoxy matrix is investigated in this study. First, the effect of thorn nano epoxy composite is studied under ASTM standards. The results indicated that the nanocomposites with 2.5 wt.% filler have the maximum tensile strength, flexural strength and hardness of the epoxy composite, while those with 10 wt.% filler exhibit a noticeable increase in impact strength and compressive strength. Furthermore, the incorporation of thorn nanoparticles improved the wear resistance. 2.5 wt.% nano PJ thorn composites improved wear resistance by 9.03%. Additionally, the size of the nanoparticles, the fracture surfaces, the crystalline nature, the elements and the compounds in the thorn nanofillers are examined using transmission electron microscope, field emission scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.
... Traditional P. juliflora regulation approaches, particularly especially mechanical and chemical methods, have proven to be costly and ineffectual [107,108]. As a result, measures aimed at minimizing expenses while maximizing economic advantages are being considered in many emerging countries. ...
... However, not only surface water but also groundwater is used extensively in the upper part of the basin after the introduction of groundwater irrigation, and only a limited amount of surface/ground water flows downward. As a result, considerable differences in farm income were observed between upper and lower parts of the basin (Sato and Periyar, 2011), although invasive tree species on abandoned farmland have provided some temporary benefit in the lower part of the basin (Sato, 2013). ...
... In the growing world, the need for alternate materials is increasing. At the same time, lots of landscapes are occupied by Prosopis juliflora plants, which makes it difficult to cultivate crops and also it absorbs the water and nutrients from the land and makes it uncultivable [2,3]. A lot of research works are undergoing to use these plants effectively for various applications. ...
Article
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Plastics are unavoidable at this times, putting our planet in danger. The Prosopis juliflora (PJ) thorns are collected, processed, and powdered. The mechanical characteristics of these powders are examined when combined with polymer composites. Pores are the main cause of moisture input, hence using powder filler materials reduces the number of pores in the composite, increasing water resistance. The composites are made by altering three parameters: waste plastic content, filler powder composition, and chemical treatment. It was discovered that the integration of thorn powder increased the wear resistance. The composites were tested in accordance with ASTM standards, and the results were optimized. Based on the results, composite specimens were created and tested for validation.
... The flowers of mesquite trees are white hairy to olive-green leaflets of about 3 in (Rajeshwaran et al. 2015). Mesquite trees grow shallow or deep based on rainfall and location [35,36]. They are categorised as long-lived plants to adopt low drought and light. ...
Article
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Cutting fluids (CF) act as lubricating and cooling agents on the cutting zone during machining. Mostly, the oils derived from minerals act as CF, which adversely affect the environment and humans. Hence, replacing mineral oil with bio-oil derived from synthetic and vegetable oils is necessary. Bio-oil extracted from raw nonedible sources has become a reliable source for green cutting fluids in recent years. Bio-oil usage in machining eliminates numerous health issues such as ingestion, hazardous aerosols, and skin irritations produced by conventional cutting fluids. This study examines attaining renewable manufacturing by employing eco-friendly bio-oil cutting fluid. This study’s objective is to examine the performance of transesterified mesquite (Prosopis juliflora) oil (MO) as bio-oil-based CF. Post conversion of mesquite oil to methyl ester (MME), MME was inspected for, density, and viscosity as per the ASTM conditions. MME was compared with MO and synthetic ester (SE) on the orthogonal cutting condition to examine the suitability. Results revealed that the bio-oil provided better and natural lubrication than a synthetic ester. Further, it also improved the lubrication which improved the surface finish than a synthetic ester. Higher-lubricating property forms a strong film layer on the workpiece surface and lowered the working temperature than a synthetic ester. Hence, it is concluded that MME acts as an improved lubricant and shall be a potential candidate to replace synthetic ester as a cutting fluid.
... In Tamil Nadu, a southern state of India, a policy is made to encourage burning this harmful weed. It is right now being utilized in the production of power on a small scale by firing along with coal [29]. The dumping of ash generated from burning Prosopis Juliflora which is called Prosopis Juliflora Ash (PJA) again is an issue. ...
Article
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Plastic bottles are a large part of the increasing population in the 1940s. It takes hundreds of years for petro-chemical based compounds to decompose. The process of dumping plastic waste is a huge problem and also harmful to the environment. Plastic products are one of the major sources of pollution for land and water. Dumping of plastic waste is a critical problem. To overcome these effects, solid waste management can be used in the construction area. By placing the cement with Prospis Juliflora ash the side effects caused by cement can be reduced. Solid waste such as crushed plastic and Prosopis Juliflora Ash (PJA) can be used in concrete production. Prosopis Juliflora, a persistent weed that has spread widely over the past 150 years, has been an environmental issue in various parts of the world, including India. Because of its environmental and economic effects, in Africa and India, Prosopis Juliflora has been confirmed as a deleterious plant. It can fix large quantities of carbon dioxide as biomass from the atmosphere, it can be viewed as a smart source of biomass. By replacing the cement with Prosopis Juliflora Ash the side effects of cement towards the environment can also reduce. In this research, the white cement, plastic, and PJA are used to make a floor tile. The primary binder cement is replaced in this study by plastic waste and PJA with 10%, 20% and 30% proportion. In this study, mechanical properties of concrete with and without addition of PJA is studied as per Indian Standard code provisions. It has been observed that these combinations prove good for abrasion and impact resistance of floor tiles made from these, but do not contribute much to strength gain.
... In India, many such initiatives are already in action, being supported and often promoted by non-governmental organizations for the welfare of local people. For example, L. camara has been widely used for making handicrafts (Negi et al., 2019), whereas P. juliflora biomass has been used as an energy source in several small-scale electricity generating plants (Sato, 2013). Although this sounds promising, scientific evidence to support this management approach is rare, if not absent. ...
Article
Biological invasions are a major global challenge for the conservation of biodiversity, maintenance of ecosystem health and sustainable livelihoods. As the number of novel introductions of invasive species is predicted to increase due to rising trade volumes in the emerging economies, regulatory policies to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species are of paramount importance. However, poor response capacities, lack of coordination between stakeholders, heavy dependence on biological resources and little public awareness are some of the formidable barriers in framing and implementing such policies in developing countries. This study was conceptualized to establish common ground by considering the diverse interests of different actors and design a policy framework to control invasive alien plant species (IAPS) in the lower-middle income economies considering India as a case study. To achieve this objective, we evaluated the introduction pathways and current economic uses of IAPS in India and critically reviewed the infrastructure and current response capacity of the country for regulating pre-and post-border trading of these problematic species. We found that the majority of IAPS were introduced for ornamental purposes and some of them are still actively traded and used for several economic purposes. Despite having a rich legacy of environmental policies, a legal framework exclusively to deal with invasive species is non-existent in India. Here, we propose a set of policy interventions, for international and domestic trading, by integrating trade regulations based on a risk assessment framework with interests of both consumers and traders to ensure effective compliance from all stakeholders. Further, we identify potential hurdles for policy implementation in India and therefore, based on the existing biosecurity infrastructure , we outline an operable and dynamic decentralized system having a standard operating procedure to ensure coordination between different stakeholders, increase public awareness and guide further research direction.
... In Tamil Nadu, a southern state of India has proposed a policy to encourage the removal of this species from the uncultivated land. It is right now being utilized in the production of power in small scale by firing along with coal [26]. Since, no work has been addressed on the utilization of Prosopis juliflora ash in the production of cement concrete, this work was intended to evaluate the use of PJA as partial replacement of cement in the production of cement concrete. ...
Article
This paper presents the mechanical and microstructural characteristics of cement concrete with partial replacement of cement with Prosopis juliflora ash (PJA). The fresh property of the mixes was assessed with the help of slump cone test and the mechanical properties such as compressive strength, impact resistance and flexural characteristics of reinforced concrete beams were assessed. From the experimental investigation, it was observed that there were no such appreciable changes in the mechanical properties of the cement concrete when cement is partially replaced with PJA and 20% replacement produces similar mechanical properties of the conventional cement concrete mixes. This results in greater reduction of loss of groundwater due to the growth of PJA as well as reduction in the pollution rate due to effective utilization of PJA and reduced cement production.
... The Report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (2017) highlighted the necessity of implementing a rural vitalization strategy, prioritizing the development of agriculture and rural areas, and addressing the problems related to farmers, agriculture, and rural areas (termed "San Nong Wen Ti" in Chinese) as the top priority of the whole party. Improving the vitality of rural areas, reconstructing the rural economy, and reversing the primitive nature of rural development is an urgent problem (Sato, 2013;Li et al., 2014;Chen et al., 2017). ...
Article
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Based on panel data from 1991, 2000 and 2010 at the county level in China, this study analyzed the coupling characteristics and spatio-temporal patterns of agricultural labor changes and economic development under rapid urbanization using quantitative and GIS spatial analysis methods. Three primary conclusions were obtained. (1) During 1991–2010, China’s agricultural labor at the county level showed a decreasing trend, down 4.91% from 1991 to 2000 and 15.50% from 2000 to 2010. In spatial distribution, agricultural labor force has evolved by decreasing eastward and increasing westward. (2) During 1991–2010, China’s agricultural economy at the county level showed a sustained growth trend, with a total increase of 140.13%, but with clear regional differences. The proportion of agricultural output in national GDP gradually decreased, characterized by decreases in eastern China and increases in western China. (3) The coupling types of economic-labor elasticity coefficient are mainly growth in northwest China, for both the agricultural economy and labor, and are intensive in southeast China, with growth of the agricultural economy and reduction of agricultural labor. Regions with lagged, fading, and declining coupling types are generally coincident with the high incidence of poverty in China. However, different coupling types had a positive developing trend for 1991–2010. Finally, based on the coupling types and spatial distribution characteristics of economic-labor elasticity coefficients, some policy suggestions are proposed to promote the integration of the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries and the vitalization of rural economies.
... In order to minimize the negative impacts and maximize benefits, control and management of Prosopis juliflora is very important. Therefore, synthesis of activated carbon using Prosopis juliflora biomass can be economical, improve the invasive plant management and protect the environment [21]. ...
... Recent policies of the state government of Tamil Nadu in India have encouraged removal of this species from fallow land. It is currently being co-fired with coal in small-scale thermal plants for electricity generation [20]. Instead of combustion, microwave torrefaction can aid in better energy and resource recovery from PJF. ...
Article
This study is focused on evaluating the effect of particle size and microwave power on torrefaction of the invasive biomass species, Prosopis juliflora (PJF), via experiments and theoretical model. Experiments were conducted using a central composite design (CCD) approach to construct response surfaces capturing the effects of these two factors on three key characteristics of the obtained char, viz. yield, calorific value and energy recovery. Highest char yield was obtained at an intermediate microwave power for a given particle size, while the calorific value increased with both the parameters. The response surface for energy recovery was convex with maxima at 481 W power for 1.9 mm particles. A microwave-based thermogravimetric study was conducted to obtain the mass loss profile during torrefaction. Assuming a global, single-step, power-law kinetic model with Arrhenius-type rate constant for torrefaction, the apparent activation energy and reaction order were estimated to be 173.93 kJ mol − 1 and 1.3, respectively. To explain the trends of char yields, a new approach was proposed that integrates the temperature profile information with the inferred kinetic model. Two parameters, viz. tor-refaction time and average temperature, are introduced to quantify the temperature profiles during torrefaction. The generic model can be extended to any biomass species and reactor configuration by conducting suitable experiments. Detailed composition analysis of the bio-oil revealed that, unlike conventional torrefaction, significant degradation of lignin also occurred along with hemicellulose degradation at low bulk temperatures during microwave torrefaction.
... The detrimental impact of Prosopis spp. is clearly noted in the literature (Poynton 1988;Harding & Bate 1991;Zimmerman 1991;Pasiecznik et al. 2001;Admasu 2008;Van den Berg 2010;Wakie et al. 2012;Dzikiti et al. 2013;Shackleton et al. 2014). Only a few studies, however, have tried to calculate the economic costs and benefits of using it productively as a raw material for various value-added products, such as firewood, charcoal, pulp, flour and honey, and for its medicinal properties (Blignaut & Aaronson 2008;Choge et al. 2012;Wise et al. 2012;Van Wilgen et al. 2012;Sato 2013). ...
Article
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The invasive Prosopis spp. tree is one of the major causes of disturbance affecting the Orange River water management areas in the Northern Cape, South Africa. These disturbances affect natural capital, such as reducing the stream flow of the Orange River, causing a decline in biodiversity of the native Nama Karoo vegetation, consuming excessive water, and invading dryland areas. Therefore, we assessed the economic value of different land-use options following the control of Prosopis spp. to prevent re-invasion using a system dynamics model. This study yields positive cumulative NPVs of between ZAR28.3 million and ZAR98.3 billion when co-finance of between 20% and 100% is included to clear the Prosopis spp., combined with the productive land use of the cleared land by the private sector. This is in stark contrast to a negative NPV of-ZAR11.6 million when no alternative land-use activity is implemented on the cleared land. This study shows empirically that clearing Prosopis spp. and restoring the cleared land for agricultural land-use options is a cost-effective strategy for controlling the invasive Prosopis spp. trees.
... These plantderived materials are safe, cheap and serve as an alternative to chemical pesticides. P. juliflora is a thorny shrub, having a cosmopolitan distribution [3,4]. It is a fast growing nitrogen fixing plant; and capable of adapting to any harsh environmental conditions, so its growth is not affected by any environmental factors. ...
Article
Chemical insecticides are largely used for the control of agricultural pests, in spite of harmful effects on non-target organisms and their persistence in the environment. Alternative pest control method involving of plant secondary metabolites has gained momentum recently. In the present study seed pod of Prosopis juliflora plant was studied for the lethal and sublethal effect on the Spodoptera litura larvae. Different solvent extracts of Prosopis juliflora seedpods were tested for insecticidal activity. The results showed that hexane seed pod extract of Prosopis juliflora with LC50 (24 h) (200.40 ppm) and LC90 (24 h) (1.01 ppm). Further, the effect of hexane seed pod extract an immune and antioxidant system of S. litura larvae were studied. The results show a significant increase in the total hemocyte count. Among haemocytes, Granulocytes, Plasmatocytes, Spherulocytes, Oenocytoids, and Prohemocytes showed an increase. Further an increased level in prophenoloxidase was observed. Catalase, Super Oxide Dismutase, Glutathione S-Transferase and Cytochrome P450 enzymes showed a significant increase. The chemical composition of hexane extract was analyzed using GC-MS and FTIR. GC-MS analysis showed the presence of five active compounds among which 9-Octadecyne had maximum peak value (63.314%). FT-IR analysis showed the presence of alkenes, alkyl halides, carboxylic acids, and aromatics. This study shows that P. juliflora seed pod hexane extract is effective in producing lepidopteran larval mortality and this may be due to the presence of 9-Octadecyne. In addition, this extract also increases the antioxidant and immune enzyme activity thus affecting the fitness of the insect. P. juliflora seedpod hexane extract could be as an alternative to conventional insecticides for controlling agricultural pest of S. litura.
... Progressive landscape fragmentation was observed in relation to hazelnut plantations in Italy (Godonea et al., 2014) and cash crop cultivation in China (Su et al., 2014). The survey of Sato (2013) demonstrated that decrease of cropping could be compensated by the economic gain from Prosopis cultivation in Tamil Nadu, India. These publications, together with the current paper, highlight the global failure of generate a win-win relationship between economic and ecological outcomes of cash crop cultivation. ...
Article
Cash crop expansion has become a global land use issue in recent decades. While the enlarging cash crop cultivation brings promising profitability, it can impair the delivery of various ecosystem services, with a risk of threat to sustainability and human well being. In order to make well-informed land use policy decisions, it requires elaborate efforts to characterize the trade-off between the benefit and cost of cash crop cultivation. This paper focuses on the enlarging tea cultivation in subtropical China, using a case of Anji County. We first monitor tea expansion from 1985 to 2016 based on time-series Landsat imageries, and then analyze the subsequent changes of water conservation service through an in-field survey of soil loss. Monetary approach is finally employed to evaluate the trade-off between economic benefit and ecological cost associated with the growing age of tea plantations. Results show that tea plantations expanded rapidly from 1985 to 2016 in Anji County. Delivery of water conservation service has been significantly impaired by the conversion from natural forests to tea plantations, but it can be gradually improved during the long rotational life cycles of tea plantations. For a given plot (1 ha at moderate slope), in theory, the economic benefit and ecological cost exhibit opposite trend associated the growing age of tea plantations, and an equilibrium point is approximately achieved at the 12-year growing age. In reality, ecological cost exceeds the economic benefit throughout the study period in Anji County. More specifically, the net difference increases from 11575 Yuan in 1985–1469167 Yuan in 2016. It denotes that economic benefit fails to compromise the ecological cost of the enlarging tea cultivation in Anji County. Conflicting land use policies (ecological conservation vs cash cropping promotion) and ‘household contract responsibility’ system should account for the unbalanced relationship between economic benefit and ecological conservation. We finally propose four major options towards the win–win possibilities between economic gain and ecological conservation associated with tea cultivation.
... Saraswathi et al. (2012) have studied the significance of Prosopis juliflora as a livelihood support to the rural economy of Sivagangai district. According to Sato (2013), Prosopis juliflora is being utilized as an energy source and boosts the economy of rural livelihood in semi-arid districts of Tamil Nadu such as Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai, Virudhunagar and Pudukkottai. Diversity and the nesting success of wetland birds at Vettangudi Bird Sanctuary have been reported to be adversely affected by the aggressive establishment of Prosopis juliflora . ...
Chapter
This book contains 30 chapters focusing on the importance of plant biodiversity monitoring and assessment to help prevent species extinction, ecosystem collapse and solve problems in biodiversity conservation.
... Prosopis juliflora usually known as " mesquite " is an evergreen permanent tree that can grow in dry regions. It is commonly disseminated in different parts of the world including India, South and East Africa, Australia, Kuwait, Mexico, Ethiopia, and South America (Sato, 2013). Mostly, in the southern areas of India, the accessibility of Prosopis juliflora seeds is very high. ...
Article
This study was aimed at hybrid nanocatalysts to reduce emissions of a diesel engine fueled with nanocatalyst biodiesel blends. Biodiesel was produced from Prosopis juliflora oil by the transesterification process. The nanocatalyst having cerium oxide on multiwall carbon a nanotube was investigated using biodiesel blends at two concentrations (50 and 100 ppm).The results revealed that the high surface area of the nanoparticles and their proper distribution along with catalytic oxidation reaction resulted in significant overall reductions in the emission. More specifically, all pollutants, i.e., CO, HC, and NOx, and smoke opacity were reduced when compared to B20.
... It is fast growing nitrogen fixing plant and capable of adapting harsh environments as deserts and saline soils. It is widely distributed in different parts of the world including Australia, Mexico, South America, South and East Africa, Kuwait, India and Ethiopia (Sato, 2013;Pasiecznik andNick, 1999, Yemata, 2014). Numerous bioactive chemical constituents including polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, terpenes, cyclopentanones and others have been isolated from different parts of Prosopis juliflora (dos Santos et al., 2013, Ibrahim et al., 2013Singh, 2012, Dadi et al., 2015. ...
Article
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Plant produces large number of compounds as secondary metabolites with complex structure and diversity with a potent insecticidal activity. Large number of plants has been identified so far for their insecticidal property and can be used as an alternative pest management for synthetic pesticides. The present investigation was conducted to evaluate the insecticidal activity of prosopis juliflora against termite (Odontotermes obesus) and cockroach (Blattella germanica). The n-hexane extract of the proposed plant showed higher percentage mortality at 10 % concentration in 30 and 42 hours against termite and cockroach respectively. The LD 50 was determined to be 0.472% and 1.07% for termite and cockroach, respectively after 23 hours. The proposed plant showed significant insecticidal activity at 0.005% level of confidence. From the present investigation it can be suggested that prosopis juliflora can be used as potential insecticide.
... Kunth). De acordo com a International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN, 2015) a algaroba é considerada uma das mais importantes exóticas invasoras do mundo, sendo encontrada em várias regiões áridas e semiáridas do globo, a exemplo da Austrália (Alban et al., 2002), Etiópia (Shiferaw et al., 2004), Iêmen (Ali & Labrada, 2006), Índia (Kathiresan, 2006;Sato, 2013), Sudão (Elfadl & Luukkanen, 2003;Babiker, 2006), Quênia (Choge & Ngujiri, 2006), Emirados Árabes (El-Keblawy & Adbedlfatah, 2014), e do Havaí, nos EUA (Dudley et al., 2014), dentre outros. ...
Article
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O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a sociabilidade de espécies autóctones da Caatinga com a exótica invasora Prosopis sp. (algaroba) para o emprego em projetos de recuperação de áreas invadidas. Foram instaladas 20 parcelas de 100 m², onde todas as espécies lenhosas com altura ≥ 15 cm tiveram contabilizados o número de indivíduos. Para avaliar a associação das espécies nativas com a algaroba foi utilizado o coeficiente de Jaccard. Para inferir sobre a correlação de Prosopis sp. com os demais táxons, foi empregado o coeficiente de Pearson e para a categorização do desempenho das espécies nativas foi feita a média aritmética da somatória do índice de associação e do coeficiente de Pearson. Foram amostradas 28 espécies associadas a Prosopis sp., das quais 14 apresentaram pelo menos cinco indivíduos e estavam em mais de duas unidades amostrais. A espécie com melhor desempenho foi Lantana camara (0,62 – muito bom), seguida por Herissantia crispa (0,41 - bom), Cynophalla hastata (0,32 - médio), Ipomoea carnea e Celtis iguanaea (0,27 - médio) e Mimosa pseudosepiaria (0,2 - médio). Em vistas dos resultados obtidos e dos atributos ecológicos das espécies, conclui-se que as espécies listadas nesse estudo são as mais indicadas para o plantio consorciado em áreas invadidas por Prosopis sp. Palavras-chave: Invasão biológica; Sociabilidade; Prosopis; Recuperação de áreas degradadas; Savana Estépica.
... Traditionally harvested as a fuel plant for domestic use, it is now widely used as a fuel for small scale electricity generation by cofiring with coal in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. 25 P. julif lora is also known to invade millions of hectares of rangeland in South Africa, East Africa, Australia, South America, and other parts of Asia. 26 Better recovery of energy and resources from P. julif lora is possible via microwave pyrolysis rather than direct combustion. ...
Article
Microwave pyrolysis is an efficient technique to valorize the abundantly available Prosopis juliflora (PJF) biomass into fuel intermediates. In this study, the effects of microwave power, susceptor, PJF particle size, PJF to susceptor mass ratio, and initial mass of PJF on bio-oil, gas, and char yields, composition of bio-oil, and energy recovery in bio-oil and char were evaluated. Five different susceptors, namely, graphite, char, aluminum, silicon carbide, and fly ash, an industry waste, were utilized. A high bio-oil yield of 40 wt % with a heating value of 26 MJ kg-1 was achieved with fly ash at a microwave power of 560 W, PJF particle size of 2-4 mm, and PJF (50 g)/fly ash composition of 100:1 (wt/wt). The bio-oil contained a mixture of phenolic compounds, aromatic hydrocarbons, cyclopentanones, carboxylic acids, ketones, and furan derivatives. Nearly 51% deoxygenation of PJF was achieved with an atomic O/C ratio of 0.24 in bio-oil. This work demonstrates that the yield and quality of bio-oil are dependent on key parameters such as microwave power, biomass particle size/composition, and type of susceptor.
Conference Paper
div class="section abstract"> The rising demand for fossil fuels and the exploration of renewable energy sources from plants have gained significant attention due to their role in reducing emissions and enhancing energy security. Prosopis juliflora, abundantly available in India, offers a viable source for biodiesel production. This study investigates the performance and emission characteristics of a 5.2 kW, 1500 rpm, four-stroke single-cylinder compression ignition (CI) engine using blends of diesel, vegetable oil, and biodiesel derived from Prosopis juliflora seeds. The engine was tested with pure diesel, vegetable oil (PJO), biodiesel (B100), and biodiesel-diesel blends at 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% by volume, designated as B20, B40, B60, and B80, respectively. Key performance metrics, including brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and brake specific energy consumption (BSEC), were measured, along with emissions such as carbon monoxide (CO), smoke, hydrocarbons (HC), and nitrogen oxides (NO). Results indicated that BTE for B20 was comparable to diesel, with values of 30.52% and 30.68%, respectively, at 5.2 kW. The BSEC for B20 was recorded at 11.79 MJ/kWh compared to 11.74 MJ/kWh for diesel. Emission analysis revealed that HC and smoke emissions were lower for all biodiesel blends compared to diesel. At 5.2 kW, HC emissions were 74 ppm for B20 versus 75 ppm for diesel, and smoke emissions were 67.7% for B20 compared to 69.1% for diesel. However, NO and CO emissions were slightly higher for biodiesel blends. This study suggests that Prosopis juliflora-derived biodiesel can effectively reduce HC and smoke emissions while maintaining performance, highlighting B20 as a promising alternative to conventional diesel fuel. </div
Article
The ecological impacts of invasive alien species are well known, as are the large-scale economic losses caused by these species. Less well known are the impacts of these species on human wellbeing. In developing countries, like India, where a large proportion of the population is rural and intricately dependent on natural resources for its sustenance, the impacts of invasive species on people’s wellbeing are likely to be as important as their ecological impacts. In this paper, we undertake a qualitative review of the literature on impacts of invasive alien species, specifically plants, on human wellbeing in India. Our results show that impacts are diverse across various aspects of wellbeing and are both positive or negative based on local contexts. This plurality is indicative of the need for a more nuanced approach to impact analysis and stakeholder mapping. We use constituents of human wellbeing as outlined in the Socioeconomic Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (SEICAT) and the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF) to analyze invasive plant impacts, identify knowledge gaps, and discuss recommendations for future research on impacts of invasive species. Although the widespread natural resource dependency among rural, tribal, and other marginalized communities of India gives biological invasions a socioeconomic dimension (due to impacts of invasion on these resources), the human and social dimensions of species invasions have been neglected compared to their ecological dimension. We suggest that understanding the pluralities of wellbeing circumstances with invasive species could help improve policies for management of invasive species in India.
Article
Steroidal saponins are amphiphilic glycosidic chemical constructs, which possess diverse biological activities, that are attributable to the structural variations in the aglycone part and in the carbohydrate part. Daucosterol, a steroidal saponin, is a nutraceutical possessing various pleiotropic effects such as food preservative, immunomodulatory, anticancer and hypoglycemic effects. Non-conventional extraction methods have gained more importance as they provide target specific isolation, and thus, an eco-friendly sustainable process, optimized using Response surface methodology can be a viable proposition. P. juliflora, is an invasive plant, is seen as a major threat to agricultural lands, and is known to be a rich source for these saponins. Here we have reported a greener valorization procedure for Daucosterol from the heartwood of the invasive weed P. juliflora, various factors such as solvent, Solid-solvent ratio, extraction time, temperature, as well as aided valorization methods with microwave and ultrasonication were tested. Based on ‘one variable at a time’ experiments, which could influence the extraction process, an ultrasound-assisted valorization for daucosterol was developed. Response surface methodology was designed using a Box-Behnken method. Acetonic precipitation of Daucosterol yielded 8.02 mg/g of PJ, with the optimized conditions being 49.5 °C temperature, 14.6% solid loading and 0.76 M HCl in ethanol (v/v). It is also found that solvent had a greater influence on the extraction process. In order to understand the effect of acid treatment on the material, the cell wall constituents were quantified, and an acid-ethanol treatment method, improved the cell wall degradation and thereby increased the extraction efficiency of the nutraceutical, as evidenced by SEM images.
Chapter
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Invasive non-native plants are changing ecosystems and native biodiversity, and modifying soil microbial feedback. The invasive species Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) D.C. (mesquite) has been introduced into several ecosystems, especially in tropical and subtropical regions, causing economic, ecological and health problems. This article reviews P. juliflora ecophysiological and reproductive attributes, such as phenology, vegetative, seed germination and dispersal, allelopathy and invasion mechanisms. We found that P. juliflora invasion has negative impacts on native biodiversity, ecosystem structure and function, bulk soil, seed bank, and hydrological cycle. We discuss P. juliflora as a ruminant food and for human use, and new management techniques. The easy naturalization P. juliflora in tropical regions has been explained by allelopathy, repeated flowering, vegetative propagation, production and dispersal of huge viable seeds. In particular, P. juliflora produces allelochemicals that are not produced in close relatives. Such chemicals have facilitative effects on associated vegetation in the native range, but have detrimental effects in the introduced range. Management strategies are presented to control P. juliflora invasion.
Article
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By policy, introduction of Prosopis Juliflora (Mathenge) was supported by its resilience, notably with standing harsh climatic conditions, a fast rate of growth as well as diversified benefits ranging from animal to human food such as honey and medicines. Prosopis Juliflora has spread over a large area in the arid and semi-arid regions in Kenya. There is no conclusive empirical evidence on the socio-economic impact of Prosopis Juliflora on the livelihoods of the communities in which it has grown in. Given the debate over the plant in Kenya, whether to uproot or maintain the plant, this study is timely in establishing its socio-economic benefits with an aim of providing policy recommendations based on the experience of the affected people. Besides, there lacks of satisfactory empirical focus on the study with the previous studies indicating research gaps. The study was anchored on the Sustainable Livelihood Framework, Capacities and Vulnerabilities Analysis (CVA) Framework and Institutional theory. The current study sought to examine the socio­economic contribution of Prosopis Juliflora to the livelihood of local communities in areas which are invaded by the plant, in this study, Garissa County, Kenya. Specifically, the study established the contribution of prosopis Juliflora on improving livestock production, households diversification of income and households ownership and access to productive assets in Garissa County, Kenya and its link to livelihood. A descriptive research design was adopted with the study targeted Local Administrative Officers of the wards in Fafi Sub-County, the 7 sub counties and 23,671 households of Fafi Sub County in Garissa County, Kenya. The study targeted the heads of households. The sample size was 384 households randomly sampled from the area of study. The study results revealed that all the prosopis juliflora dimensions of contribution had a positive and significant relationship with livelihood of local communities in Garissa County, Kenya. However, the magnitude of the contribution was different for the specific prosopis juliflora dimensions. The prosopis juliflora households’ diversification and finally the ownership and access to productive assets on the livelihood of local communities in Garissa County, Kenya. Consequently, this study provides national and county governments with insights of how to improve livelihood of local communities through prosopis juliflora. The study recommended that national and county governments should adopt a policy of enhancing prosopis juliflora positive contribution to go a long way for improvement of livelihood of local communities in Garissa County and other arid and semi-arid areas in Kenya. Key Words : Improving Livestock Production , Income Diversification, Ownership and Access to productive assets, Livelihood, Kenya
Conference Paper
The present study was conducted using the novel catalyst for lowering the exhaust emissions of diesel engine powered with biofuel. Using transesterification, biodiesel is extracted from raw Prosopis juliflora oil. The catalysts were the mixture of CeO2 and MWCNT (Multi-walled carbon nanotubes) at concentrations of 50ppm and 100ppm. The current experimentation purely deals with engine operation at constant speed of 1500rpm at five engine loads namely 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% respectively. B20+CeO2MWCNT50 is prepared by blending 25ppm CeO2 and 25ppm MWCNT in B20 (20% Prosopis juliflora biodiesel+80% diesel) while B20+CeO2MWCNT100 is prepared by blending 50ppm CeO2 and 50ppm MWCNT in B20 (20% Prosopis juliflora biodiesel+80% diesel). Results indicate that the improved surface area to volume ratio of nano-additives resulted in significant drop in emission parameters. HC, CO, NOx and smoke emissions of nano blended biodiesel is comparatively lower than neat biodiesel.
Chapter
Invasive non-native plants are changing ecosystems and native biodiversity, and modifying soil microbial feedback. The invasive species Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) D.C. (mesquite) has been introduced into several ecosystems, especially in tropical and subtropical regions, causing economic, ecological and health problems. This article reviews P. juliflora ecophysiological and reproductive attributes, such as phenology, vegetative, seed germination and dispersal, allelopathy and invasion mechanisms. We found that P. juliflora invasion has negative impacts on native biodiversity, ecosystem structure and function, bulk soil, seed bank, and hydrological cycle. We discuss P. juliflora as a ruminant food and for human use, and new management techniques. The easy naturalization P. juliflora in tropical regions has been explained by allelopathy, repeated flowering, vegetative propagation, production and dispersal of huge viable seeds. In particular, P. juliflora produces allelochemicals that are not produced in close relatives. Such chemicals have facilitative effects on associated vegetation in the native range, but have detrimental effects in the introduced range. Management strategies are presented to control P. juliflora invasion.
Article
The expansion of cash crops has raised contradicting interests between two bureaucratic bodies (the economy-oriented one that advocates cash crop production and the conservation-oriented one that focuses on natural resources protection) in many places around the world. Recent past has saw growing efforts on the theoretical linkages between cash crop production and conservation, but the solutions to the cash cropping −related land use conflicts remain as violent controversy. Using a geo-simulation approach, this paper models the tea expansion under different policy scenarios and evaluates the effectiveness of these policies in Anji County (China), as a contribution to the scientific basis for formulating sustainable cash cropping practices and alternative land use policies. In particular, a new self-adaptive cellular automaton model based on ensemble learning (EL-CA) is developed and three policy scenarios (economy-over-conservation (EOC), conversion-over-economy (COE), and economy-balance-conservation (EBC)) are set to predict the tea expansion patterns in 2025. Results show that the EL-CA model significantly outperforms the traditional CA models based on empirical statistics. We find that the tea expansion under the EOC scenario is much more intensive than that under the COE and EBC scenarios. The most outstanding ecological consequence of tea expansion is the occupation of forests. Employing an equivalent coefficient approach, we further quantify the trade-offs between economic incomes (from tea expansion) and ecological loss (due to ecosystem service value (ESV) declines) under the three policy scenarios. In the EOC scenario, the loss in ESV far exceeds the benefit of tea expansion. Net change of ESV is higher than that of economic return under the COE. The economic benefit is approximately equal to the ecological loss in the EBC scenario. The EBC should be a socially preferred scenario, since it leads to sustainable tea expansion and minimal ecological impacts. Though the EBC scenario is a desirable choice, how to enforce these policies is an important consideration. Given the complexity in the Chinese policy context, we finally propose several possible measures to promote the coherence of paradoxical policies involving the allocation of land for cash crop cultivation.
Chapter
Prosopis juliflora application in restoration of contaminated/degraded land, phytoremediation, CO2 sequestration and carbonation technology, utilization for production of bioethanol, value additions and value chain products, medicinal uses, and ecosystem services are covered in this chapter. Prosopis is considered to be one of the problematic, invasive, exotic tree species that has provoked special attention in the tropics. Originating in South America, it has been gradually colonized in the hot and semiarid zones of the world. Its main advantages are as a supply of fuelwood, a stabilizer of sand dunes, and to combat desertification. Despite these numerous advantages it has become an invasive species with a certain degree of negative impact on the environment. As per verbal information from forest officials of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, India, Prosopis was introduced in 1877 when it served as a source of fuelwood for poor villages, without which conventional forests would have disappeared to a considerable extent.
Article
Cash crop plantation has recently become an expanding global phenomenon. Characterizing the dynamics of cash crop plantations and the corresponding determinants should provide critical references for land use policy. Using aerial photos and geographic information system, this paper investigated the trends of four types of cash crops (tea, fruit, mulberry and nursery) and their relations to other land use changes within Hangzhou region in subtropical China. Results showed that the total cash crop cultivated surface increased by 541.3. ha from 2004 to 2014. Most of the new tea and fruit plantations were established in places previously used as forest and woodland. Mulberry and nursery mainly expanded by replacing paddy, woodland and forest. By combining household survey, geospatial techniques and multilevel regression, multilevel determinants of cash cropping probability and cash crop expansion were quantified. At the parcel level, tea and fruit plantations inclined to occur on hilly land with gentle slope. Mulberry and nursery plantations were likely to be observed in flat areas with low elevation. Parcels covered by high quality soils and with convenient communications experienced greater cash cropping probability. At the household level, households constituted of female and old-aged labor or with low agricultural labor intensity demonstrated high probability of tea and mulberry plantations. Conversely, households constituted of middle-aged labor or with high agricultural labor intensity tended to grow more fruit and nursery. Besides, wealthier households were prone to establish fruit and nursery plantations but were reluctant to involve in tea and mulberry cropping. At the village level, population density was a significant determinant of cash cropping probability, but was an insignificant determinant of cash crop expansion. Greater occurrence of cash cropping was observed in villages with higher proportion of migrant labor and leasing land. Distance to county road and distance to provincial road were identified as negative determinants. Policy was evidenced to be of significant influence on cash cropping probability and cash crop expansion. We argue that a balance should be achieved between cash cropping promotion and natural resources protection in formulating the local land use policy.
Article
On the slopes of the embankment of the Al-Khod groundwater recharge–flood protection dam (Oman), a band of scrub vegetation community emerged after torrential rains and temporary filling of the dam reservoir. Species composition differs markedly on both sides of the embankment, with many exotics found on the reservoir side and more typical gravel-desert species on the outside. Hydro-ecologically, the vegetation is interpreted as the footprint of a temporary storage of water, which is a small-sized groundwater mound within the permeable shoulder of the levee. The levee, as an anthropogenic landform, induces a U-turn (gravitational slumping–lateral seepage–transpirational moisture ascent) topology of seepage. The Lembke method of successive variations of steady states is used in modelling the water table dynamics. In the early stage of the mound decay, outflow through a seepage face of the shoulder is modelled by the Barenblatt slumping parabola of the phreatic-zone part of the flow domain, which is perfectly matched with the Youngs exact solution for a purely horizontal flow through a porous wedge. At the stitching cross-section, the flow rates and saturated depths in the two zones coincide. The late stage of mound evolution is characterized by transpiration by the plant roots projected onto a shrinking free surface, with the Barenblatt and Youngs solutions conjugated but without the outcrop of the saturated mound on the levee slope. Ordinary differential equations for the sliding or descending locus of the intersection of the parabola and the triangle hypotenuse are integrated in a closed form or by the Runge-Kutta method. The dwindling saturated volume and the rate of drainage are obtained. They can be used in assessments of the hydro-ecological sustainability of slope-rooted shrubs (vegetation survival between rare rainfall episodes).Editor D. Koutsoyiannis; Associate editor A. Porporato
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Over the past century woody plants have increased in abundance on sites formerly occupied by grasslands in the Sonoran Desert. Woody plant invasion has been associated with a multitude of biological and physical factors. This study was conducted to determine temperature, soil, fire, rodent, and livestock effects on the germination and establishment of whitethorn acacia (Acacia constricta Benth.) and velvet mesquite (Prosopis velutina (Woot.) Sarg.]. Optimum germination temperatures for both shrubs ranged from 26 to 31-degrees-C, and seedling emergence was greatest from seed sown at 1 to 2 cm depths in sandy loam soil. Merriams kangaroo rats (Dipodomys merriami) fed seeds in the laboratory removed seed coats and planted embryos at 2 to 4 cm depths in a sandy loam soil. Prescribed fire killed 100% of seed placed on the soil surface but had no measurable effect on the germination of seed planted at 2 cm. After passage by sheep, about 6% of the A. constricta and 13% of the P. velutinta seeds germinated while after passage by cattle, only 1% of the A. constricta and 3% of the P. velutina seed germinated. Embryo planting by rodents may improve survival efficiencies for these leguminous shrub seedlings, but seed consumption and passage by sheep and cattle appear to adversely affect seed germination. Dipodomys merriami, rather than domestic livestock, may be responsible for the spread of these shrubs in the Sonoran Desert.
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A study on some biological features of Prosopis juliflora, a multipurpose leguminous species introduced to Ethiopia, was carried out at Melka-Worer, North-east Ethiopia. The study focused on the number of seeds produced in a pod during the study period, seed dispersal through droppings of animals, soil seed banks, seed germination and stumping height of trees and coppicing ability of P. juliflora. The overall mean number of seeds was 23±4 seeds/pod. The width and length of seeds ranged between 0.8–1.7 and 8–29 cm, respectively. The mean weight of a seed of Prosopis was 0.0275 g±0.001 (S.E.) while there were 36,000–37,000 seeds/kg. The number of seeds recovered from 1 kg of droppings of each animal ranged between 760 (goats) and 2833 (cattle), suggesting that cattle are the major dispersers of seeds of the study species followed by warthogs, camels and goats. There was a highly significant difference in vertical distribution of the seed density of P. juliflora recovered from the soil samples while the horizontal distribution exhibited a great disparity in the density of soil seeds among the sample plots. The total mean soil seed density, in the litter layer and down to 9 cm depth, was 1932 seeds/m2 (±307 S.E.). Germination of seeds of P. juliflora differed significantly among the various treatments. The highest germination percentage was obtained from seeds that were treated with mechanical scarification (100%) and sulfuric acid for 15–60 min (97–99%). About 37% and 47% of the seeds recovered from droppings of goats and warthogs, respectively, germinated. All stumped trees of P. juliflora produced coppices except those stumped at 10 cm below ground. The overall mean number of coppices at the studied plots was 17.8±0.9 (S.E.) while the overall mean height of coppices, in 6 months after stumping, was 68.4 cm±2.7 (S.E.). The results clearly demonstrated that Prosopis is equipped with a number of biological characteristics that foster its rapid invasion of new areas. These include: (i) production of many, small and hard seeds capable of surviving passage through the digestive system of animals, entering into the soil to form soil seed banks and remaining viable until favorable conditions for germination and seedling establishment appear; (ii) attractive and rewarding pods for animals, containing fleshy and sweet mesocarp embodying the numerous small seeds, which is sought after by both domestic and wild animals, meant for long-distance dispersal; (iii) accumulation of dormant but long-lived viable seed reserves that would serve as sources of regeneration of new Prosopis plants in the event of disturbance that might eliminate the above-ground stands; (iv) production of a mixture of seeds, with a few capable of germinating immediately after dispersal to exploit the favorable conditions that might exist at the time of dispersal, while the majority remain dormant for spreading germination over time and space; and (v) great ability of resprouting and fast coppice growth from stumped/damaged trees, making it a very strong competitive invader combined with its sexual reproduction. Combinations of all these characteristics make Prosopis a powerful noxious invader as can be evidenced from its rampant invasion in the study site and elsewhere in the tropics. Therefore, any effort in the management, control or elimination of Prosopis, which does not take these biological characteristics is bound to fail. The results also revealed that stumping trees at 10 cm below the ground eliminates the chance of resprouting of Prosopis and, hence, might offer a viable option for controlling and even eliminating the plants from areas where they are undesirable. The fact that Prosopis has great ecological and socio-economical importancce, which have not been fully realized in Ethiopia, makes its control through utilization a very attractive, purposive and viable option.
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Effects of pruning on biomass growth in Prosopis juliflora were examined under dryland conditions in the Sudan. Growth parameters were followed for a total period of 32 months and water content, and gas exchange measurements were carried out. Heavily pruned trees yielded more than six times larger usable wood volume and produced 60% more leaf biomass than the control. The water status in pruned trees was improved which also had a more efficient CO2 assimilation rate, associated with higher stomatal conductance. The results and their implications for the management of sparsely spaced P. juliflora are discussed in relation to agroforestry.
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"Although there is little consensus on the impact of trade liberalization on poverty and food security, it is nevertheless widely acknowledged that there is a need for governments to establish safety-nets to guard against any potentially harmful effects on the poor and vulnerable sections of society. Against this background, programs aimed at achieving food security and reducing poverty gain increased importance in the reform era. This study aims to evaluate several such programs that are currently in place in the country from the point of view of their impact, efficiency and financial sustainability. The purpose is to determine how these programs may be improved and propose appropriate policy options for reform, while also keeping in mind the new challenges that might lie ahead. Specifically, the study evaluates the Public Distribution System (PDS), Public Works Programs, and certain food-based direct intervention programs such as the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) and Tamil Nadu Integrated Nutrition Program (TINP), with a view to suggest how they can be made more cost effectiveness and better targeted." From Author's Executive Summary
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The objective of this paper is to conduct theoretical inquiries and empirical analysis on the issue of institutional evolution for resource management, focusing on irrigation water, a traditional local common property resource. Two management schemes for irrigation water, a community management regime (tank irrigation) and an individualised management regime (well irrigation), are compared in terms of rice production efficiency. Using farm household data collected by the authors in Tamil Nadu, India, it is found that the profit of rice production using well water only is low due to the high labour input required for well irrigation management. Then, estimation of the profit function reveals that the profit of farmers using both tank and well water is statistically significantly higher than that of farmers who use either well water only or tank water only. The result, based on game theoretical inquiries, implies that in equilibrium tank and well irrigation can coexist. Moreover, it is calculated that about 90% of farmers will use wells in equilibrium. Considering that well users are only 37% of all farmers at present, the number of wells will increase.
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This book presents a state of the art review of the limits and opportunities for improving water productivity in crop production, focusing on both irrigated and rain-fed agriculture. It provides concepts, methodologies, constraints and examples drawn from a wealth of experience from developing and developed countries. It demonstrates how efficiency of water use can be enhanced to maximize yields. The book represents the first in new series of volumes resulting from the Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture, a research programme conducted by the CGIAR's Future Harvest Centres, the FAO of the United Nations and partners worldwide. It will be of significant interest to those working in areas of soil and crop science, water management, irrigation and development studies.
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This article aims to investigate the effects of the expansion of private wells on rural livelihood (income) in a tank-intensive watershed in the upper Gundar River Basin in southern Tamil Nadu, India, based on data obtained by recent field surveys, government statistics and meteorological records. For the entire upper river basin, we show spatial differences at the village (gram panchayat (() level and track the changes over the last two decades. The major finding is that although traditional crop production, mainly composed of paddy, millets and pulses, was dominant at least until the mid-1990s, the expansion of private wells enabled farmers to introduce cash crops, especially in the upper part of the basin. By contrast, fallow land increased sharply in the lower part of the basin due mainly to the disappointing performance of the wells. The different performance of wells finally resulted in a significant income gap between the upper and the lower river basin.
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The government should immediately initiate a detailed investigation of basic information for all tanks in Tamil Nadu as well as the country as a whole. Further, a periodic desiltation and strengthening of tank infrastructure should be undertaken as routine process. Also legislation should be enacted (for eviction of encroachers and punishing illegal water users), legal measures tightened and powers given to revenue authorities along with the local tank organisation to undertake maintenance and management of the tank system effectively. Care must be taken that these legal measures do not affect inter-departmental functions and that these laws actually help the authorities concerned to improve tank efficiency.
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This paper, based on a sample study of female migrant workers in Tamil Nadu, highlights the trends, pattern and nature of female migration in Tamil Nadu; the push and pull factors of migration and finally the role of migration as a livelihood strategy. The major push factor was lack of employment opportunities in the place of origin caused by drought and the pull factor was a favourable employment situation in the destination areas. After migration there seems to be a sizeable improvement in self-employment and regular salaried jobs for women. But the concentration of women in the informal sector to the extent of 82 per cent is an indication of their disadvantaged position in the urban labour market. Weighing the gains and losses, the study concludes that migration has helped migrant households avoid hunger, starvation and death, though it has failed to improve the economic well-being of about 43 per cent of the families, particularly the female headed households. To alleviate poverty, the government's attention should be directed towards combating population movement via rural development and also improving the living conditions of those who had already moved.
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Distress migration has been a regular resort of the poor in less-favoured regions, more so in areas that face chronic water scarcity. This paper looks at the evidence from Gujarat, and examines the impact of watershed development programmes on migration among farm workers from landed as well as landless households.
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Historical archives of aerial photography provide a rare data source for quantifying rates and characterising patterns of plant invasions. Canopies of a ca. 70-year-old exotic mesquite population in Western Australia were extracted from a temporal series of panchromatic aerial photography over an area of 450ha using unsupervised classification. Non-mesquite trees and shrubs could not be differentiated from mesquite, and so were masked out using an image acquired prior to invasion. The accuracy of this technique was corroborated in the field and found to be high (R2=0.98, P3m2 could be reliably detected with the 1.4m spatial resolution of the imagery used. Rates and patterns of invasion were compared to mesquite invasions where it is native. It was determined that: (i) the shift from grass to mesquite domination has been rapid, with rates of increase in canopy cover comparable to invasive populations in its native range; (ii) rate of patch recruitment was high in all land types, including stony flats, but patch expansion and coalescence primarily occurred in the riparian zone and red-loamy soils; (iii) sheep and macropods have been the main vectors of spread and (iv) early successional patterns, such as high patch initiation followed by coalescence of existing stands, are similar to those where mesquite is native, but patch mortality was not observed.
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Irrigated agriculture is facing rising competition worldwide for access to reliable, low cost, high quality water. In England, farmers are under regulatory pressure to improve irrigation efficiency; indeed, demonstrating efficient water use is now a prerequisite for renewing an irrigation abstraction licence (permit). However, there are differences between the concepts of efficient water use as viewed by scientists, regulators and farmers, further confused by the overlap of similar terminology with both precise technical and wider less specific meanings. Most farmers’ concepts of water efficiency are linked to maximising the farms’ economic productivity rather than saving water per se, except perhaps when their own allocated resources may be inadequate. Using a financial criteria for water efficiency rather than an engineering one appears a sensible approach when assessing irrigation performance at the farm level, since any managerial (e.g. scheduling) and operational (e.g. equipment) inefficiencies associated with irrigation are implicitly included in the assessment. It also allows comparison between individual irrigators (benchmarking) and between different water sectors (e.g. agriculture, leisure, industry). However, estimating the direct financial benefits (value) of water to the farm is only part of the equation; assessing indirect economic benefits, such as the importance of irrigated production to the sustainability of rural communities is equally important, but much harder to achieve. Demonstrating efficient or ‘best’ use of water is not straightforward, but farmers and the water regulator need a rational approach that reflects the needs of the farming community whilst providing a policy framework for protecting the environment. This paper reviews the concept of irrigation efficiency in a temperate climate, considers the farmer perspectives, and supports using the ‘pathway to efficiency’ as a means to assist farmers and the water regulator in achieving better irrigation management and abstraction control.
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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore recent calls to include social and environmental considerations in supply chains by analyzing the sourcing of raw materials from impoverished communities to reduce environmental impacts and social exclusion in biofuels production. Design/methodology/approach A case study methodology based on interviews and focus groups with supply chain members and other stakeholders is conducted in Brazil, a major biofuels producer and user. Two supply chain cases, fuel ethanol and biodiesel, illustrate the challenges of recent government policies and industry attempts to improve sustainability within the supply chain. Findings Although government and industry recognize the importance of providing opportunities for impoverished communities in biofuels supply chains, there remain considerable pressures to economize at the expense of sustainable supply chain policies. Sourcing from impoverished farmers who lack basic business knowledge, and distrust industry and government policy, compound these challenges. Research limitations/implications While sustainability research now emphasizes the importance of considering interactions among economic, environmental, and social parameters, little is known about integrating poorly educated, impoverished farmers within supply chains. Basic business education is needed, and further research should explore entrepreneurial dynamics within impoverished communities. Practical implications Supply chain managers should acquire skills for engaging with impoverished farmers lacking formal education. Cooperatives can bridge knowledge asymmetries between buyers and suppliers, but will require support from industry if sustainable supply chain policies are to succeed. Originality/value Most sustainable supply chain scholars acknowledge the importance providing opportunities for impoverished communities, but few have explored how potential entrepreneurs from impoverished communities can participate as productive supply chain members.
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Energy use in developing countries is heterogeneous across households. Present day global energy models are mostly too aggregate to account for this heterogeneity. Here, a bottom-up model for residential energy use that starts from key dynamic concepts on energy use in developing countries is presented and applied to India. Energy use and fuel choice is determined for five end-use functions (cooking, water heating, space heating, lighting and appliances) and for five different income quintiles in rural and urban areas. The paper specifically explores the consequences of different assumptions for income distribution and rural electrification on residential sector energy use and CO2 emissions, finding that results are clearly sensitive to variations in these parameters. As a result of population and economic growth, total Indian residential energy use is expected to increase by around 65–75% in 2050 compared to 2005, but residential carbon emissions may increase by up to 9–10 times the 2005 level. While a more equal income distribution and rural electrification enhance the transition to commercial fuels and reduce poverty, there is a trade-off in terms of higher CO2 emissions via increased electricity use.
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Per capita freshwater availability in China is among the lowest in the world and increasingly in short supply. Less water will be available for irrigation, which consumes the largest amount of fresh water because of the rapidly increased demands for fresh water for industrial and domestic use. To feed the increasing population under the conditions of keeping sound ecosystems and environment, there is an urgent need for China to produce more food with less water than for many other countries in the world. In recent decades China has pioneered some water saving policies and water saving irrigation (WSI) techniques, aimed at increasing water and land productivity. Policies for WSI from high level support conducive institutional development, leading to maximization of the effects of agricultural infrastructure, and of successful research on, and dissemination of, new technologies. There are many success stories about "real" water savings in China. This paper introduces the development of the WSI techniques and the impacts of WSI on society, the economy and the environment, and presents the experiences and lessons on WSI from China. Based on the analysis on the supply and demand of fresh water, the objectives and tasks for water saving from irrigated agriculture in China are discussed, and the strategies for sustainable water use and agricultural development and the main measures leading to increasing water and land productivity are mentioned. Copyright (C) 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Book
Water resource management since Independence has been, and continues to be, overly preoccupied with augmentation of supply to the neglect of efficiency of use and long-term sustainability. This collection brings together the author's recent writings on some of the key issues relating to water resources management in India. Besides rejecting the controversial proposal of river interlinking, a strong case is made for a major shift towards integrated watershed development in rain-fed areas; reducing waste and over-exploitation of water; and more efficient use of irrigation water. The urban water scene is dealt with in a case study of Chennai city. This volume would be useful to policymakers, environmentalists, water activists, NGOs, aid agencies, and researchers in the water management sector.
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Farmers in Tamil Nadu State integrate numerous species of multipurpose trees and shrubs on their farmlands in close association with agricultural crops and/or livestock. The dominant among them areBorassus flabellifer, Tamarindus indica, Ceiba pentandra, Acacia leucophloea andA. nilotica. These woody perennials are better able to cope with poor growing conditions. Their increasing integration on farmlands represents a strategy to minimise risk of crop failure. Some species (e.g.Prosopis juliflora andDelonix elata) are deliberately used to ameliorate infertile or saline soils in order to permit the growing of annual crops. In addition to producing fuelwood, charcoal, fruit and fodder and providing many service functions, these species require only fewer inputs and give the farmer a choice of management options in the event of poor crop growth. The productivity of these traditionally managed and little-studied agroforestry systems can considerably be improved by scientific interventions.
Article
Productive tree plantations on degraded land within Pakistan’s irrigation areas may help control salinity by extracting shallow groundwater, but their adoption has been limited by a lack of information on tree–water–salt interactions. Tree growth, water use, climate and soil conditions were monitored between 1994 and 1998 in young plantations of Eucalyptus, Acacia and Prosopis at two locations in Punjab province. Eucalyptus camaldulensis on an irrigated, non-saline site near Lahore showed best growth till the age of 5 years, and an annual water use of 1393 mm. Irrigated Eucalyptus microtheca at this site and unirrigated E. camaldulensis dependent on saline groundwater at Pacca Anna also transpired over 1000 mm of water per year. Basal area growth of Acacia ampliceps at the latter site was similar to E. camaldulensis, but its water use was less. Lowest annual water use of 235 mm was shown by an understocked stand of Prosopis juliflora. Canopy conductance decreased with increasing vapour pressure deficit to a species-dependent minimum value. Results of soil sampling, chloride balance modelling and intensive monitoring of soil solution salinity demonstrated accumulation of salt in the root zone of plantations using saline groundwater. The concentration of stored salt varied seasonally as a result of water table fluctuations and redistribution processes within the unsaturated zone. The apparent limitation of salt accumulation by these processes and the continuing satisfactory growth of the plantations justify cautious support of tree growing as a control measure for shallow water tables and salinisation in Pakistan.
Article
Continuous upstream water development in the South Indian Krishna Basin has resulted in declining water availability downstream. Upstream water use is not adjusted to reflect rainfall fluctuations, and downstream farmers of the Nagarjuna Sagar irrigation project in the state of Andhra Pradesh are increasingly vulnerable to water supply shocks. Understanding the adaptive capacity of irrigated command areas to fluctuating water conditions is critical. This paper documents the wide range of adjustments adopted by managers and farmers in Nagarjuna Sagar during a period of fluctuating water availability (2000–2007). Primary and secondary data indicate managerial adjustments such as rotational and timely water supplies to meet critical water demands of standing crops. Farmers responded to changing conditions through: (a) crop diversification, (b) shifting calendars, (c) conjunctive use, (d) suspending cultivation, (e) sale of livestock, (f) out-migration, and (g) tampering with the irrigation system. Adaptive strategies are more diverse in the tail-end than in the head-end of the canal network and local adjustments are often uncoordinated and may degrade the resource base. A better understanding of the practices induced by changes in water availability is needed to refine current water allocation and management in large surface irrigation projects. Crop diversification, deficit irrigation in low-flow years, and conjunctive use are some of the practices to be promoted in a conducive agricultural environment.
Article
Undoubtedly, drought is one of the prime abiotic stresses in the world. Crop yield losses due to drought stress are considerable. Although a variety of approaches have been used to alleviate the problem of drought, plant breeding, either conventional breeding or genetic engineering, seems to be an efficient and economic means of tailoring crops to enable them to grow successfully in drought-prone environments. During the last century, although plant breeders have made ample progress through conventional breeding in developing drought tolerant lines/cultivars of some selected crops, the approach is, in fact, highly time-consuming and labor- and cost-intensive. Alternatively, marker-assisted breeding (MAB) is a more efficient approach, which identifies the usefulness of thousands of genomic regions of a crop under stress conditions, which was, in reality, previously not possible. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) for drought tolerance have been identified for a variety of traits in different crops. With the development of comprehensive molecular linkage maps, marker-assisted selection procedures have led to pyramiding desirable traits to achieve improvements in crop drought tolerance. However, the accuracy and preciseness in QTL identification are problematic. Furthermore, significant genetic × environment interaction, large number of genes encoding yield, and use of wrong mapping populations, have all harmed programs involved in mapping of QTL for high growth and yield under water limited conditions. Under such circumstances, a transgenic approach to the problem seems more convincing and practicable, and it is being pursued vigorously to improve qualitative and quantitative traits including tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses in different crops. Rapid advance in knowledge on genomics and proteomics will certainly be beneficial to fine-tune the molecular breeding and transformation approaches so as to achieve a significant progress in crop improvement in future. Knowledge of gene regulation and signal transduction to generate drought tolerant crop cultivars/lines has been discussed in the present review. In addition, the advantages and disadvantages as well as future prospects of each breeding approach have also been discussed.
Article
Migration literature has considered environmental constraints as one of the prime movers of populations, especially from dry regions, where water rather than land is the primary limiting factor. This study examines the impact of degradation of private as well as common pool land resources on migration decisions, based on primary data from over one thousand households in three dry land districts in Gujarat. The study finds that economic assets and natural capital have differential impacts on short-term and long-term migration decisions. Thus, any employment creation in rural dry land regions is likely to help the poorest. Further degradation of common-pool land resources influences short-term but not long-term migration. Therefore, better management of common-pool resources would strengthen the livelihood base of traditional herder communities and limit migration among middle-income households. Overall, in dry areas such as Gujarat, access to irrigation, rather than land ownership per se, is likely to deter migration.
Article
"Global concern about deforestation caused by fuelwood shortages prompted the introduction of Prosopis juliflora to many tropical areas in the 1970s and 1980s. P. juliflora is a hardy nitrogen-fixing tree that is now recognised as one of the world's most invasive alien species. The introduction and subsequent inva-sion of P. juliflora in the Lake Baringo area of Kenya has attracted national media attention and contra-dictory responses from responsible agencies. This paper presents an assessment of the livelihood effects, costs of control and local perceptions on P. juliflora of rural residents in the Lake Baringo area. Unlike some other parts of the world where it had been introduced, few of the potential benefits of P. juliflora have been captured and very few people realise the net benefits in places where the invasion is most ad-vanced. Strong local support for eradication and replacement appears to be well justified. Sustainable utilisation will require considerable investment and institutional innovation."
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In this article, the role of crop specialization and diversification in agricultural transformation is investigated empirically. Changes in aggregate land productivity are associated structurally with intercrop and interdistrict reallocation of land use. Results from a region with the oldest history of agricultural commercialization in developing countries show that cropping patterns of subsistence agriculture changed substantially, with rising concentration of crop acreage in districts with higher and growing productivity. Rapid specialization in crop production was observed at the district level recently, after a phase with sporadic specialization. These changes reflected comparative advantage and contributed to the improvement in aggregate land productivity.
Article
The objective of this paper is to conduct theoretical inquiries and empirical analysis on the issue of institutional evolution for resource management, focusing on irrigation water, a traditional local common property resource. Two management schemes for irrigation water, a community management regime (tank irrigation) and an individualised management regime (well irrigation), are compared in terms of rice production efficiency. Using farm household data collected by the authors in Tamil Nadu, India, it is found that the profit of rice production using well water only is low due to the high labour input required for well irrigation management. Then, estimation of the profit function reveals that the profit of farmers using both tank and well water is statistically significantly higher than that of farmers who use either well water only or tank water only. The result, based on game theoretical inquiries, implies that in equilibrium tank and well irrigation can coexist. Moreover, it is calculated that about 90% of farmers will use wells in equilibrium. Considering that well users are only 37% of all farmers at present, the number of wells will increase.
Dairying systems in India
  • A Banerjee
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