Gum Production on Different Land Forms in Arid Western Rajasthan

Abstract

Acacia senegal (L.) Willdenow or Acacia seyal (Fam. Leguminosae) is native to arid and semi-arid region of sub-Saharan Africa. In Indian sub-continent, species is exotic but has been well naturalized. Acacia senegal is an important tree species, the source of gum Arabic is found in the desert state of Rajasthan, especially in arid western Rajasthan. It’s habitats in arid western Rajasthan included rocky hills, sandy plains, sandy hummock and sand dunes. It is commonly an under canopy tree which generally attains a height of 4.5 to 8.0 m. After repeated trials and error, ICAR-CAZRI, Jodhpur standardized the dose of Ethephon treatment of A. senegal trees for enhanced recovery of gum Arabic. The present study deals with CAZRI developed gum Arabic production technology coupled with gum Arabic production from different land forms in arid zone. From the data obtained through various experimentations A. senegal produces maximum average of (0.408g/ tree) gum Arabic on sand dunes followed by inter dunal area (0.316g/ tree). Minimum average of gum Arabic yield recorded in rocky gravelly land forms (0.12 g/tree). Acacia senegal can be source of additional income for the millions of people in arid and semi-arid regions of India, if it is explored scientifically for gum tapping through the technique developed by ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur, India.