Prosopis (Prosopis juliflora) is a xerophyte which, in its native habitats has been a desert plant. As long as it was confined to that habitat, P. juliflora was a great resource, improving the region’s micrometeorology, binding its sandy soil, and providing shelter, fuel, feed, food, medicines, and cosmetics to the people of such regions. In particular, for the economically weaker inhabitants, P.juliflora was a lifeline.But when P. juliflora was indiscriminately introduced in other regions of the world in a hope to derive similar benefits from it, things began to go awry. Indeed, among the invasive species of plants which are spreading at an alarming rate in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world, P.juliflora is arguably the most hardy and resilient. It is growing so explosively that it even enters roads and homes, driving humans out of their dwellings. The resulting damage to biodiversity is enormous. This book highlights the dual role played so far by P. juliflora and itemizes the facets that make it a blessing in some contexts and a bane in other contexts.Authored by leading experts in the field, Prosopis juliflora: Attributes, Impact, Utilization is the first title of its kind to comprehensively discuss this hardy plant species. It will be an essential read for students, researchers and governmental agencies interested in plant biology, forestry, plant ecology, invasive plant species and environmental science.
1. Prosopis Juliflora - p. Page i 2. Cover - p. Page i 3. Title page - p. Page ii 4. Table of Contents - p. Page iii 5. Copyright - p. Page iii 6. Contents - p. Page vi 7. About the authors - p. Page vi 8. List of Illustrations - p. Page ix 9. List of Tables - p. Page x 10. Chapter 1 : The five most weedy species of the genus Prosopis that are covered in this book under the generic name “prosopis” - p. Page x 11. Chapter 2 : The interspecies similarities and the intraspecies variations in the genus Prosopis - p. Page 16 12. Chapter 3 : The stellar role of prosopis in its original habitat - p. Page 45 13. Chapter 4 : The attributes that make prosopis powerfully invasive and colonizing - p. Page 53 14. Chapter 5 : The prosopis spread - p. Page 68 15. Chapter 6 : Effect of climate change on the spread and the impact of prosopis - p. Page 88 16. Chapter 7 : Adverse impacts of prosopis - p. Page 96 17. Chapter 8 : Attempts to eradicate prosopis or atleast control it - p. Page 131 18. Chapter 9 : Use of prosopis for fuelwood, timber, and a source of carbon - p. Page 157 19. Chapter 10 : Use of prosopis as food and feed - p. Page 187 20. Chapter 11 : Use of prosopis in eco-restoration - p. Page 209 21. Chapter 12 : Use of prosopis in bioremediation and pollution control - p. Page 229 22. Chapter 13 : Prosopis as a source of medicines for humans and animals - p. Page 255 23. Chapter 14 : Prosopis as a source of biopesticides - p. Page 278 24. Chapter 15 : Use of prosopis in making biocomposites - p. Page 295 25. Chapter 16 : Prosopis as a source of liquid and gaseous fuels - p. Page 308 26. Chapter 17 : Use of prosopis in the making of nanoparticles and their applications - p. Page 322 27. Chapter 18 : Use of prosopis as compost/vermicompost - p. Page 333 28. Chapter 19 : Other emerging uses of prosopis - p. Page 354 29. Chapter 20 : Prosopis management and the conflicts of interest associated with it - p. Page 370 30. Author Index - p. Page 394 31. Subject Index - p. Page 394
Prosopis (Prosopis juliflora) is a xerophyte which, in its native habitats has been a desert plant. As long as it was confined to that habitat, P. juliflora was a great resource, improving the region’s micrometeorology, binding its sandy soil, and providing shelter, fuel, feed, food, medicines, and cosmetics to the people of such regions. In particular, for the economically weaker inhabitants, P.juliflora was a lifeline.But when P. juliflora was indiscriminately introduced in other regions of the world in a hope to derive similar benefits from it, things began to go awry. Indeed, among the invasive species of plants which are spreading at an alarming rate in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world, P.juliflora is arguably the most hardy and resilient. It is growing so explosively that it even enters roads and homes, driving humans out of their dwellings. The resulting damage to biodiversity is enormous. This book highlights the dual role played so far by P. juliflora and itemizes the facets that make it a blessing in some contexts and a bane in other contexts.Authored by leading experts in the field, Prosopis juliflora: Attributes, Impact, Utilization is the first title of its kind to comprehensively discuss this hardy plant species. It will be an essential read for students, researchers and governmental agencies interested in plant biology, forestry, plant ecology, invasive plant species and environmental science.
1. Prosopis Juliflora - p. Page i 2. Cover - p. Page i 3. Title page - p. Page ii 4. Table of Contents - p. Page iii 5. Copyright - p. Page iii 6. Contents - p. Page vi 7. About the authors - p. Page vi 8. List of Illustrations - p. Page ix 9. List of Tables - p. Page x 10. Chapter 1 : The five most weedy species of the genus Prosopis that are covered in this book under the generic name “prosopis” - p. Page x 11. Chapter 2 : The interspecies similarities and the intraspecies variations in the genus Prosopis - p. Page 16 12. Chapter 3 : The stellar role of prosopis in its original habitat - p. Page 45 13. Chapter 4 : The attributes that make prosopis powerfully invasive and colonizing - p. Page 53 14. Chapter 5 : The prosopis spread - p. Page 68 15. Chapter 6 : Effect of climate change on the spread and the impact of prosopis - p. Page 88 16. Chapter 7 : Adverse impacts of prosopis - p. Page 96 17. Chapter 8 : Attempts to eradicate prosopis or atleast control it - p. Page 131 18. Chapter 9 : Use of prosopis for fuelwood, timber, and a source of carbon - p. Page 157 19. Chapter 10 : Use of prosopis as food and feed - p. Page 187 20. Chapter 11 : Use of prosopis in eco-restoration - p. Page 209 21. Chapter 12 : Use of prosopis in bioremediation and pollution control - p. Page 229 22. Chapter 13 : Prosopis as a source of medicines for humans and animals - p. Page 255 23. Chapter 14 : Prosopis as a source of biopesticides - p. Page 278 24. Chapter 15 : Use of prosopis in making biocomposites - p. Page 295 25. Chapter 16 : Prosopis as a source of liquid and gaseous fuels - p. Page 308 26. Chapter 17 : Use of prosopis in the making of nanoparticles and their applications - p. Page 322 27. Chapter 18 : Use of prosopis as compost/vermicompost - p. Page 333 28. Chapter 19 : Other emerging uses of prosopis - p. Page 354 29. Chapter 20 : Prosopis management and the conflicts of interest associated with it - p. Page 370 30. Author Index - p. Page 394 31. Subject Index - p. Page 394
