Site pages
Current course
Participants
General
Topic 1
Topic 2
Topic 3
Topic 4
Topic 5
Topic 6
Topic 7
Topic 8
Topic 9
Topic 10
Topic 11
Topic 12
Topic 13
Topic 14
Topic 15
Topic 16
Topic 17
Topic 18
Topic 19
Topic 20
Topic 21
Topic 22
Topic 23
Topic 24
Topic 25
Topic 26
Topic 27
Topic 28
Topic 29
Topic 30
Topic 31
Topic 32
Topic 33
Topic 34
Topic 35
Topic 36
Topic 37
Topic 38
MUTIPURPOSE TREE SPECIES
MUTIPURPOSE TREE SPECIES |
The multipurpose tree species (MPTs) is a plant species that is purposefully grown so as to provide two or more than two products and also service function like shelter, shade, land sustainability of the land-use system. Many woody perennial species may be ‘multipurpose’ in one kind of system but ‘single purpose’ in another.
VARIOUS BENEFITS FROM MPTS FOOD
1. Human food from trees (fruits, nuts, leaves, cereal substitutes, etc).
2. Livestock feed from trees (one step down the trophic chain). 3. Fertilizer trees for improving the nutritional status of food and feed crops through: (a) Nitrogen fixation 4. Soil and water conservation. (b) Access to greater volume of soil nutrients through deep rooting trees (c) Improved availability of nutrients associated with higher cation exchange capacity and organic matter levels. 5. Environment amelioration. WATER 1. Improvement of soil moisture-retention in rain-fed cropping systems and pastures through improved soil structure and microclimate effects of trees.
2. Regulation of stream flow for reduction of flood hazard and more even supply of water, through reduction of run-off and improvement of interception and storage in infiltration galleries, through various watershed protection practices involving trees. 3. Protection of irrigation works by hedgerows of trees. 4. Improvement of drainage from waterlogged or saline soils by phreatophytic trees. 5. Increased biomass storage of water for animal consumption in forage and fodder trees (higher water content of tree fodder in dry season). ENERGY 1. Firewood for direct combustion
2. Pyrolytic conversion products (charcoal, oil, gas). 3. Produces gas from wood or charcoal feedstocks. 4. Ethanol from fermentation of high-carbohydrate fruits. 5. Methanol from destructive distillation or catalytic synthesis processes using woody feedstock. 6. Oils, latex, other combustible saps and resins. 7. Augmentation of wind power using appropriate arrangements of trees to create venturi effects (wind power is proportional to the cube of wind velocity). SHELTER 1. Building materials for shelter construction
2. Shade trees for humans, livestock and shade-loving crops. 3. Wind-breaks and shelter-belts for protection of settlements, cropland and pasture. 4. Living fences. RAW MATERIALS FOR PROCESSING 1. Wood for a variety of craft purposes.
2. Fibre for weaving industries. 3. Fruits, nuts etc. for drying or other food-processing industries. 4. Tannins, essential oil, medicinal ingredients etc. CASH 1. Direct cash benefits from sale of above-listed products.
2. Indirect cash benefits from productivity increases (or input savings) 3. Via associated crops or livestock. SOCIAL PRODUCTION 1. Production of goods for socially motivated exchange (e.g. cattle for bride price, ceremonial foods etc.) 2. Increased cash for social purposes (ritual expenses, development levels, political contributions etc.) Multipurpose trees species should fulfil the following criteria:
|
Last modified: Tuesday, 22 May 2012, 4:54 AM