Multipurpose Tree. https://cststudy.blogspot.com/
Multipurpose Trees (MPTs)
The term "multipurpose tree”
refers to all woody perennials that are purposely grown so as to provide more
than one significant contribution to the production or service functions (food,
fodder, fuel, timber, shelter, shade, land sustainability) of the land use
system they implement. Accordingly, a tree which will serve more than one
purpose is a multipurpose tree. A single tree may serve more than one purpose.
For example, Gliricidia sepium that
in addition to green manure provides fuel, fodder and acts as live fence.
Characteristics of MPTs suitable for Agroforestry
·
Adaptability
to local climatic conditions.
·
Ease
of establishment from seeds and seedlings.
·
They
should have a low crown diameter to bole diameter ratio.
·
They
should be light branching in their habit.
·
They
should tolerate relatively high incidence of pruning.
·
Deep
thrusting tap root system and few and shallow lateral roots (or prunable).
·
Their
phyllotaxies should permit penetration of the light of the ground.
·
Good
Coppicing ability.
·
Effective
nutrient recycling.
·
Multiple
uses: food, feed, firewood, construction materials and other products and
service (shade, shelter etc.)
·
Minimal
competition with shallowly rooted annual crops.
·
Small
leaflets readily detached when dried and quickly decomposed when used as
fertilizer.
·
A
high proportion of leaves to secondary branches.
·
Good
tolerance for drought, low fertility and others.
·
Freedom
from pests and diseases.
·
Not
compete for moisture, space and air.
·
Ability
to fix atmospheric nitrogen.
·
Supply
nitrogen in the soil.
·
Have
thin and erect leaves.
·
Maintain
proper ecosystem.
·
Non-allelopathic
effects on arable crops.
·
Easy
to propagates and prolific seed producer.
Benefits/Services from MPTs
The benefits from MPTs can be
summarized as follows:
A. Food
1. Human food from trees
(fruits, nuts, leaves etc.).
2. Livestock feed from
trees.
3. Improved nutritional
status of food and feed crops through:
a)
Nitrogen
fixation.
b)
Access
to greater volume of soil nutrients through deep rooting trees.
c)
Improve
availability of nutrient associated with higher cation exchange capacity and
organic matter levels.
4. Increased crop
production through soil and water conservation.
B. Energy
1. Firewood for direct
combustion.
2. Pyrolytic conversion
products (charcoal, oil, gas etc.)
3. Produces gas from wood
or charcoal feed stocks.
4. Ethanol from
fermentation of high carbohydrate fruit.
5. Methanol from destructive
distillation or catalytic synthesis processes using woody feedstock.
6. Oils, latex, other
combustible saps and resins.
C. Shelter
1. Building materials for
shelter construction.
2. Shade trees for
humans, livestock's and shade loving crops.
3. Windbreaks and shelter
belts for protection of settlements, crop land and pastures.
4. Living fences.
D. Raw materials for
processing
1. Wood for a variety of
craft purpose.
2. Fiber for weaving
industries.
3. Fruits, nuts etc for
drying another food processing industries.
4. Tannins, essential
oil, medicinal ingredients.
E. Cash
1. Direct cash benefits
from sale of above listed production.
2. Indirect cash benefits
from increased production of crops or livestock.
F. Long term benefits
1. Increased crop
productivity.
2. Sustain crop
productivity.
3. Improve environmental
condition.
4. Improve socioeconomic
condition.
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