Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge
Vol.10 (1), January 2011, pp 102-113
Ardu (Ailanthus sp) in arid ecosystem: A compatible species for combating with
drought and securing livelihood security of resource poor people
HS Jat1, Ranjay K Singh
1 & JS Mann
2
1Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal 132 001, Haryana; 2Central Sheep & Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar 304 501, Rajasthan
E-mail: [email protected]
Received 20.12.2010; revised 10.01.2011
In arid regions of Rajasthan, harsh and unfavorable climatic conditions coupled with poor soils, make agricultural
production system a gamble due to high risk and uncertainties. Livestock is an integral part of social, economic and
environmental system in Rajasthan. Rearing of animals is challenging in arid ecosystems and need diversified sources of
fodder and feed. There are certain trees species which are compatible to arid ecosystem and provide feed, fodder, fuel and
timber to local community in order to sustain their livelihoods. An attempt has been made to demonstrate the botanical
description, geographical distribution, other phenotypic characters, indigenous usage, marketing and economic aspects of
ardu (Alianthus sp). Results indicated that under arid ecosystem, to meet the increasing demand for food, fodder, fuel wood
and timber, etc. ardu play a pivotal role in management of land resources and securing livelihoods of economically poor
people through agroforestry system. Ardu used for many purposes including timber, fuel, fodder, ethnomedicine, etc. make
it a multipurpose species. The species found to be very much compatible and adapted to harsh arid ecosystem is one of the
main species which act as an integrated component in farming systems of farmers, and especially during the drought. Ardu
could be one of the important tree species (MPTS) for the drought period and in arid ecosystem to sustain the productivity of
sheep and goats and other animals, and secure livelihoods pastoralists and farmers.
Keywords: Arid ecosystem, Ailanthus sp, Climate change, Livelihood security
IPC Int. Cl.8: A47G 19/26; A23K; C10L; A01D 23/24; A01D 23/25; A01D 7/35; A01D 11/07; A01D 11/18; A01D 14/05;
A01D 7/04; A01D 2/07
It covers 68% of the state’s geographical area and
represents 61% of the area covered by desert in India.
In arid regions, low annual rainfall (100 mm in the
Jaisalmer area in the extreme West to 450 mm at its
eastern boundary which is the Aravalli mountain
range), harsh and unfavourable climatic conditions
(climate change) coupled with poor soils make
agricultural production systems a gamble. The state is
predominantly agrarian and 70% of its population’s
livelihood is based on agricultural activities. The total
livestock population of the state is 5,91,68,106.
Rajasthan possess 11% of the total animal population
of India that yield almost 9.16% of the total milk
production, 30% of the goat meat production, 39% of
the total wool production and 35% of draught power.
Seventy per cent of India’s camel population can be
found in Rajasthan. In Rajasthan, animal husbandry is
not merely a subsidiary to agriculture, but it is a major
economic activity and source of livelihood especially
in arid, semi-arid and harsh ecosystems, thus
providing an insurance against prominently occurring
scarcity conditions. The people of arid region depends
on small ruminants (sheep and goat) to large extent
and on large animals (cow, buffalo, camel) to some
extent for sustaining the livelihood on sustainable
basis especially during extreme weather. Income from
live stock accounts for 30 to 50% of the rural
household’s income, with wide variation in region
and households. The animal population growth rate is
very high in the state and the availability of fodder
that is already in short supply by nearly 50 % is likely
to get more aggravated (Table 1).
In absence of favorable conditions for intensive
agriculture, livestock rearing is an alternative source
of livelihood of majority of the rural population in
arid ecosystems of Rajasthan and other states of India.
The problem is becoming more and more acute with
simultaneous increase in livestock population.
Therefore, to meet the increasing demand for fodder
(green and dry) for livestock and food, fuel wood and ——————
* Corresponding author
JAT et al.: ARDU – A COMPATIBLE SPECIES OF RESOURCE POOR PEOPLE
103
timber, etc. for human population on sustainable
basis without degradation of land resources, the
only alternative is parallel advancement in the
land productivity and agroforestry. In India, the
agroforestry assumes great significance in view of the
fact that about 50% of its area suffers from one or the
other type of land degradation and is not suited for
intensive agricultural system. Under such situation, to
achieve the target of 1/3rd
land area under forest and
grass cover, the only alternative available before
researchers and planners is to encourage farmers to
grow more and more Multi Purpose Tree Species
(MPTs) under farm forestry and other agroforestry
systems to secure livelihoods1. There are number of
MPTs in the Rajasthan like ardu (Ailanthus sp), babul
(Acacia nilotica), khejari (Prosopis cineraria), siris
(Albizia lebbeck), neem (Azadirachta indica), ber
(Zizyphus nummularia), etc. that can be fed to animals
during lean period of the year (April-June and
Nov-January) especially in drought conditions.
After khejari (Prosopis cineraria), ardu (Ailanthus
sp) is the only tree that not only feed to the animals
but also used in manufacturing of plywood, match-
sticks, toy and packing materials, medicine, etc. Ardu
reflects wider adaptability and higher tolerance to
biotic and abiotic stresses hence, a potential species
during drought/ climate change. The selection of
ardu for commercially important agroforestry models
to obtain higher productivity holds significance
in producing fodder, fuel wood, timber, etc. in arid
ecosystems of Rajasthan. Realizing its multiple uses,
its cultivation in various systems extended and came
out to be as profitable venture in case of agroforestry
and silvi-pastoral system2. Ardu plantation on
community land, farm boundary, road avenues and in
agroforestry system helped in maintaining the
ecosystem by slowing down the variations in climatic
parameters due to climate change. Foliage of ardu
is used by small ruminants to meet the green fodder
requirement during lean period and it is also sold
in the market to earn some income to meet the
farmer’s expenditure to sustain their livelihood in
harsh climate.
Methodology
Looking to the importance of ardu, a survey in
arid regions of Rajasthan and research activities
at CSWRI experimental farm was carried out. In
the paper, the major emphasis was laid on the
aspects of ardu including its morphology, origin,
distribution and behavior, its popularity among
farmers, its significance, economic impact, marketing
and economics under arid ecosystems. During the
survey, the data were collected from the primary
sources on phonological and growth behavior of
plants. The economic and livelihood aspects were
observed on farmer’s field. The leaf fodder samples
were analyzed for proximate principles3.
Results and discussion
The tree is a lofty deciduous and diocious, though
it is widely distributed in the country. It grows well in
the arid and semi-arid regions. This tree is known for
its medicinal use and paper and plywood industry.
The ardu is an aggressive, intolerant pioneer species
with rapid juvenile growth of 1 to 1.5m/year. Primary
roots are moderately long, terete, tapering. Stem of
ardu is erect, terete, green and minutely tomentose.
Leaves of ardu are long, alternately and pinnately
compound having leaflets and glandularly hairy.
Leaflets are long, lanceolate and long pointed at the
apex. Leaflets are ovate, acute or acuminate, coarsely
serrate or nearly lobbed. Flowers of ardu are much
branched polygamous or generally bisexual
(dioecious), usually lax, pubscent in terminal or
axillary panicles, small, greenish yellow, bracts
minute, deciduous hairy. Calyx consists of 5 united
sepals and the petals are 5, small, green and longer
than sepals. Petals (corolla) much exceeding the
calyx lobes, which are about 0.5 cm long, oblong
lanceolate, scattered hairy inside, reflexed after
opening, filamentous glabrous and shorter than
anthers. There are 10 stamens in male flowers and
2-3 in hermophrodite flowers and in female
0 stamens. Fruit is small and one seeded samara type,
narrowed at both ends, membranous red twisted
wings with prominent veins, which are nearly parallel
except over the seed, twisted at the base and reddish
brown in colour. It is a good source of fatty oil (56%)
and proteins (28%). Wood is light and soft and ranged
Table 1—Demand and supply of fodder availability in Rajasthan
(in million tonnes)
Year Demand Supply Gap % Gap
1980 61.20 28.50 32.70 53.43
1990 58.80 31.52 27.28 46.39
1995 67.47 44.70 22.77 33.75
2001 72.18 50.08 22.10 30.62
2006 76.51 56.08 20.43 26.70
2016 84.16 61.60 22.56 26.81
(Source: Animal Husbandry Department, Rajasthan), 2010
INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 10, NO 1, JANUARY 2011
104
in colour from white to pale yellowish or straw
brown/ grey with a weight of 28 lbs per cubic
feet. The wood density varies from species to species
and it is approximately about 335-480 kg/m3 and
the specific gravity is 0.45 at 15% moisture basis.
Ailanthus is comprised of 3-4 species, out of which
one species, i.e. A. excelsa is known to be found in
Rajasthan or central India4-6
. Ardu is a lofty deciduous
tree, indigenous to Indian peninsula and grows almost
throughout the tropical and subtropical parts of the
country especially in the dry tracts7. It grows well
in arid, semi-arid and semi-moist regions. Whereas,
other species except A. excelsa, are originated in
different countries of the world (Table 2). It is widely
distributed throughout the country and observed in
abundance in the arid regions of Rajasthan and other
parts of India. The survey results indicated that, ardu
is spread in the arid tracts of the state. It grows
successfully in the region where minimum average
annual rainfall is <500mm. High density of ardu
is occurred in Sikar, Jaipur, Ajmer, Tonk, Dausa
and Udaipur districts of Rajasthan. Whereas, in
Jhunjhunu, Bharatpur, Nagaur, Alwar, Karauli,
Swai-Madhopur, Bundi and Kota it is occurred with
low density8. Highest densities of ardu tree were
found in the Sikar district of Rajasthan. Ardu is
well distributed in the central part of the Rajasthan
and along the Aravali mountain range (Fig.1).
Distribution of ardu depends upon its popularity for
leaf fodder and industry. Among these two species,
better plants of ardu have been selected on the
basis of visual observations and morphology, viz..
arrangement of branching, taper of tree, plant
coverage area, etc. The maximum plants of ardu were
found in the age group of 5-10 yrs followed by 10-15
(Table 3). In South Rajasthan, the ardu tree was found
older than North Rajasthan but the popularity
is more in North Rajasthan than South because of its
fodder and industrial use9.
Two species of Ailanthus is found throughout the
Rajasthan. Earlier many workers reported only single
species (A. excelsa). The new species of Ailanthus
was identified, which is different in morphological
as well as in inflorescence characteristics than A.
excelsa. Ailanthus excelsa and the new species of
ailanthus found all over the Rajasthan side by side.
The new species was identified first time at CSWRI,
Avikanagar (26° 15’ to 26° 25’ N latitude and 75° 25’
to 75° 28’ E longitude with an elevation of 326 m
above mean sea level). The differences between
these two species i.e. A. excelsa and another Ailanthus
species were made clear on the basis of distinguished
characters (floral as well as morphological). The
differences between two species of Ailanthus are
described (Table 4). Large numbers of exotic and
indigenous fodder trees (MPTs) including ardu are
available in the arid regions of Rajasthan. Ardu can be
grown on wide variety of soils, but thrives best on
sandy loams and it is widely distributed in the arid
ecosystem. It is relatively a fast growing tree species;
an average full grown tree yields about 5-7 quintals
of green leaves twice a year10
. It has the ability
to conserve soil in eroded areas and it is resistant
to pollution. Being a leguminous tree, it has the
properties of biological nitrogen fixation. It can be
used in plywood and medicine industry. It requires
special care and management practices during
early stages for 2-3 yrs only and after that it is able
to survive without special attention. It can tolerate
water logging in the initial stage of establishment.
It can be grown in combination with agricultural
crops without affecting the crop production. Ardu
provides nutritious green fodder during the lean
period. Ardu leaves are best among all the fodder
trees from palatability, digestibility and nutritive value
point of view (Table 5). The green leaves of ardu
can serve as a maintenance ration for livestock, but
dry leaves need supplementation by feeds rich in
phosphorous. Ardu is superior to khejari because it
has more wide distribution, more adaptability, water
logging tolerant to some extent, fast growth and
supplies the green leaf twice a year during lean period.
Indigenous utilization of ardu
Timber The wood is white and lustrous, with a faint
yellowish colour. Its wood is straight grained, fairly
even and very coarse textured. The timber is very
light (density being 0.45) and perishable and the air
dry weight is 27 lbs/ cubic ft. Annual growth rings
are indistinct and the weight of wood is 433 kg/m3
(A. excelsa). The timber is very easy to saw and work
both by hand and machines. The timber is likely to
develop fine, long widely spaced surface cracks. It is
also liable to blue stain.
Paper and plywood The timber of ardu is valued as Grade III and
Grade IV category by the forest department and
it is considered good for manufacturing plywood.
JAT et al.: ARDU – A COMPATIBLE SPECIES OF RESOURCE POOR PEOPLE
105
The pulp is obtained from debarked wood and used
in paper industry as a substitute for aspen and for
printing papers. It improves the surface quality of
paper. The wood is in great demand in Rajasthan for
plywood industry and leaf marketing (Fig. 2).
Fuel wood
Every lopping provides ample quantity of twigs,
which are not utilized for feeding but could be used as
firewood by many poor people. A lopped branch
(less than 7.5 cm thick) has been observed optimum
for production of forage, but it differs from tree to tree
and the season of lopping. Though, the stem and
branches of ardu are used for fuel wood but it gives
poor quality fuel as it burns quickly and does not
sustain heat for long time.
Fodder Sheep and goats are essentially dependent on
pasture and in this respect they differ from dairy
cattle, which receive a substantial quality of feed
in the form of grains and other concentrates. These
two species of animals can be reared well with
ardu leaves (Figs. 3 & 4). In fact, the pasture is the
cheapest source of feeding, though the pasture may
not provide a perfect diet for sheep and goats
especially during extreme temperature. As general
principle, pasture should be maintained with
perennial plants. Pastures of perennial fodder plants
have several advantages over those of annual
species. Ardu produce feed more quickly in
abundance and provide feed to the livestock even
during the drought also (Fig. 5). Drought occurs
frequently in arid regions and the farmers may
experience heavy losses. The question of what to
feed will obviously depend on what food stuffs the
grazier has on hand or is able to purchase (majority
of pastrolists are economically poor). Large variety
of plant materials, viz. tree leaves, shrubs, weeds and
grasses, normally not fed to livestock, are used
during scarcity. Ardu leaves are rated as highly
palatable and protein rich nutritious fodder for sheep
and goats and are said to augment milk production.
Nutritive value of leaves may vary with age and
stage of the plant, season, lopping or pollarding.
Table 2—Origin and distribution of Ailanthus spp in the World
Ailanthus spp Trade name Native Introduced Distribution
Ailanthus excelsa Roxb. Maharukh Central India - North-western and Central
India
Ailanthus altissima (=A. glandulosa) China sumac / Tree of heaven China China Northern India
Ailanthus grandis Gokul - - NEH regions
Ailanthus triphysa (=A malabarica) White palle China China & Japan South India
Table 3- Age group-wise mean values of different growth parameters of ardu in a initial survey
report of 18 districts of Rajasthan Growth Parameters
Age group
(years)
Height
(m)
CD
(m)
DBH
(m)
CBL
(m)
PCA
(m)
Branches
(no.)
1-5 (47) 6.63 ± 0.39 0.81 ± 0.039 0.67 ± 0.051 2.15 ± 0.18 4.21 ± 0.31 4.59 ± 0.25
5-10 (128) 8.41 ± 0.22 1.17 ± 0.040 0.98 ± 0.037 2.41 ± 0.09 6.04 ± 0.16 5.73 ± 0.18
10-15 (98) 10.39 ± 0.27 1.39 ± 0.044 1.18 ± 0.042 2.73 ± 0.12 7.18 ± 0.21 6.43 ± 0.22
15-20 (41) 12.31 ± 0.60 1.56 ± 0.112 1.35 ± 0.104 2.65 ± 0.15 7.59 ± 0.39 6.58 ± 0.35
>20 (10) 13.55 ± 1.78 2.02 ± 0.457 1.65 ± 0.353 3.32 ± 0.49 10.13 ± 1.97 7.90 ± 1.30
*Figures in parenthesis are number of sample tree
Table 4- Differences among the Ailanthus excelsa and Ailanthus spp (a new identified species)
Characters Ailanthus excelsa Ailanthus spp
Pollination Homogamy Cleiostogamy
Stamens Male- 10; Female- 0 Hermophrodite- 2-3 Hermophrodite flowers
Cohesion of carples Pistils with free stigmas Pistils with free styles
Carples One carple 5 free carples
Pollens Pollen polymorphic (tri-morphic) Monomorphic
Pollen grain Pollen grain psilate Finely tuberculate
Pod/Flower Single pod maturing per flower 3-5 pods from single flower
Hairs Branched and multicelled Unbranched
Maturity Simultaneous maturing Protoandry
INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 10, NO 1, JANUARY 2011
106
Daily meal as 50% ardu leaf and 50% wheat straw
could form maintenance ration for sheep. Mutton
yield of mutton synthetic ewes kept on silvi-pastoral
system was higher (365.0-467.22 ml/day) than in the
pasture with Cenchrus alone (310.55 ml/day) and
natural pastures (285.55 ml/day) due to green ardu
leaves supplementation (Fig. 6). Ardu leaf provides
the highly nutritious and palatable fodder to small
ruminants in the arid and semi-arid regions of India.
The comparative nutritive values of ardu indicate a
considerable degree of their importance (Table 6).
An annual average tree yields up to 1, 2 and 4 q of
green leaves at 5, 10 and >20 yrs of age. It is
therefore, largely planted on farm lands. Some trees
are lopped for green leaves while leaves from others
can be lopped, dried and stored for feeding during
lean/ scarcity period especially during drought.
The green leaves are highly palatable and digestible,
animals relish them better than the dry leaves
even when the latter are treated with molasses to
improve their palatability. The animals have to get
used to acrid smell of these leaves. The digestible
crude protein (DCP) and total digestible nutrients
(TDN) of different tree leaves are given (Table 7).
Highest DCP was observed with A. catechu and
it was followed by A. excelsa, whereas, in case
of TDN, ardu reflects highest in comparison to other
MPTs.
Animal nutrition
The performance of male weaner broiler lambs was observed on feeding of complete diets based on 50% dried pala leaves (Group T1) and on ardu
leaves (Group T2) from 91st to 180
th day of age.
The growth rate of lambs in two groups was almost similar. The intake and digestibility data showed that the lambs in group T1 maintained on pala based diet consumed more DM vis-à-vis group T2 on ardu leaves, however, digestibility
of DM, CP, CF and NFE were higher in group T2 (Table 8). One of the main problems associated with natural rangeland and grass pasture in arid region is inadequacy of forage during late winter and summer because of their short annual life cycle. Animal grazed on such pasture experienced
nutritional stress which is reflected in deteriorations of production performance and seasonal body weight changes
12. Thus, incorporation of trees like ardu
and shrubs ensures the availability of good quality forage round the year. Keeping in view a study was undertaken at CSWRI, Avikanagar on lambs
and kids to assess their plane of nutrition, pasture utilization and growth performance on 2-tier and 3-tier silvi pasture. Six each of weaner Malpura lambs and Marwari kids were allowed to graze in 1-hectare 3-tier (Ailanthus excelsa + Dichrostachys
nutans + Cenchrus setigerus) and 2-tier (Ailanthus
excelsa + Cenchrus setigerus) silvipasture from 3-6 months of age. Higher digestibility coefficients found in 2-tier system with respect to kids whereas in lambs it was 3-tier silvi pasture system
13.
Lambs and kids grazed with their mother up to 3 month of age on Cenchrus pasture; higher ADG
of kids than lambs was due to their wider choice of vegetation including top feeds
14. The ardu
leaves was feed to sheep and goat to determine the digestibility and nutritive values and it was found that goats are more efficient in intake of ardu leaves (Table 9).
Table 6—Comparative nutritive values of some of the fodder tree leaves of arid regions
Fodder tree species CP CF EE NFE Ash Ca P
Ailanthus excelsa 19.87 12.72 3.53 51.81 11.97 2.11 0.24
Acacia Senegal 10.30 9.70 - 65.70 16.40 6.90 0.05
Albizia lebbeck 16.80 31.50 4.00 36.20 11.50 2.57 0.15
Azadirachta indica 14.50 23.08 2.31 51.59 8.52 2.39 0.14
Bauhinia racemosa 15.36 18.50 3.33 54.60 8.21 4.13 0.14
Prosopis cineraria 13.98 17.80 1.88 43.44 22.90 2.73 0.15
Zizyphus nummularia 14.25 15.73 4.34 57.12 8.56 2.43 0.14
Laucaena leucocephala 21.45 14.25 6.54 49.48 8.28 2.70 0.17
Abbreviation: CP= Crude protein; CF=Crude fibre; EE= Ether extract; NFE=Nitrogen free extract
Table 5—Chemical composition of ardu leaves and wood
Green Leaves *Wood
Composition Percent (%) Composition Percent (%)
Moisture 67.39 Cellulose 51.6
Crude protein 19.87 Pentosan 14.3
Crude fibre 12.72 Lignin 30.1
Ether extract 3.53 Ash 2.1
N-free extract 51.81
Total ash 11.97
Ca 2.11
P 0.24
JAT et al.: ARDU – A COMPATIBLE SPECIES OF RESOURCE POOR PEOPLE
107
Matchwood and packing industries The wood of the plant is in great demand for
making matchwood boxes and match splints in match
industries. The wood is extensively used in cottage
industries for making wooden toys and cheap quality
cricket bats. In Rajasthan the main trunk of ardu is
mainly used for plywood making whereas, the
branches are used for making packing cases/boxes.
Thus, it can become a viable source of income for
poor family.
Medicine The bark and the gum that exudes from the trunk of
ardu are used medicinally16
. The dried bark and
fragrant gum are burnt as incense. The bark is
aromatic and used for dyspeptic complaints and is
also regarded as tonic and febrifuge in cases of
debility. A powder made from the resin mixed with
milk is given in small doses in case of dysentery and
bronchitis. The ardu yields gum of inferior quality
and the bark is bitter, astringent, anthelmintic and it is
used in diseases like dysentery, bronchitis, asthma,
dyspepsia and earache. Ardu leaves are especially
used in dysentery for small ruminants after crushing
and mix it with same quantity of water. The leaves are
used for the preparation of lotion for scabies and the
root bark is used for epilepsy and asthma.
Soil conservation The tree has been extensively used for soil
conservation purposes in Rajasthan to check the
spread of sand dunes and along the road sides to
prevent and slow down the dusty winds. Leave of
ardu trees being a rich in essential plant nutrients
serve as a green manure and improve the land
fertility. In some regions, trees are being used for
rehabilitating the degraded sites for restoration of
their fertility, moisture and thus capability to produce
plants (Fig.7).
Environmental conservation The ardu tree is described as the most adaptable
and pollution tolerant tree available, that can adapt
against the slight climatic change17
. The ardu tree has
been extensively used for soil conservation purposes
because of its resistant to drought and soil conditions.
The tree is suitable for sloppy, degraded and denuded
areas and wastelands. On an average, the root of
individual tree binds over an area of 3.10 m2. It grows
well in arid, semi-arid regions as well as both in
plains and hills as a shade and avenue tree along the
road side. The tree has been used successfully in
agroforestry for planting in and around the margins of
cultivated fields.
Regeneration and plantation of ardu
The seeds are the major source of natural
regeneration of ardu. The fruit bunches are lopped as
soon as they show signs of ripening, as the winged
seeds may be blown away by dry winds of May-June.
The seed loses viability fast but under proper storage
conditions they can remain viable for up to one year
otherwise the normal viability is 4-5 months. The seed
can be stored in dry, sealed and cold containers for
2 yrs without losing viability. Under changing climatic
conditions, seed is the best method of propagation.
Natural regeneration through coppice Natural regeneration of ardu by coppice is a good
method in which the general growth of the coppice
shoots is much faster as compared to seedling growth.
Therefore, it is much easier to regenerate by
Table 7- Nutritive value (% dry matter) of tree leaves of
some arid fodder tree species
Tree species DCP TDN
Ailanthus excelsa 16.24 63.80
Acacia catechu 24.00 46.33
Prosopis cineraria 4.49 40.99
Azadirachta indica 8.38 53.28
Zizyphus nummularia 3.48 39.49
Zizyphus mauritiana - 30.65
Abbreviation: DCP= Digestible crude protein; TDN=Total
digestible nutrients
Table 8—Feedlot performance, digestibility of nutrients, net
nitrogen retention and nutritive evaluation of pala and
ardu based ration11
Contents Group T1 Group T2
% Feed efficiency 13.43 15.37
Dry Matter (DM) 57.61 63.40
Crude Protein (CP) 54.00 70.25
% DCP 8.60 11.89
% TDN 47.50 56.59
Table 9—Digestibility and nutritive value of ardu leaves15.
Particular Sheep Goats
Digestibility of nutrients (%)
Dry matter (DM) 69.23 70.84
Organic matter (OM) 70.25 72.13
Crude Protein (CP) 84.72 85.49
Crude Fiber (CF) 50.00 52.50
Nutritive value (%)
Digestible crude Protein (DCP) 13.32 13.44
Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) 63.36 64.87
INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 10, NO 1, JANUARY 2011
108
coppicing. Out of a number of shoots only one,
nearest to the ground is retained for establishment.
Coppice shoots are thinned for better growth and
development. Within one year, the plant establishes
itself. The practice of coppicing can be practical for
3-4-generations, however coppicing vigour depend
upon the age and health of the plant cut, season, time
of cutting, height of stump, intensity of light reaching
the floor and climatic, edaphic and biotic factors. This
method is best suited when there is a drought for 2-3
yrs.
Stump planting
The cuttings raised in poly bags can be used as
planting stock after they sprout and root. A. excelsa
can also be planted by root shoot cutting 2-3 cm in
diameters, which are prepared from nearly one year
old seedlings. Stump planting economies on the
nursery cost, transportation of planting material and
planting. Another advantage of stump planting in
afforestation of steep slopes is obvious, because
it does not disturb any soil. Stump planting gives
less than 50% success, however, pit planting is better
than any other method.
Micropropagation
Tissue culture is the propagation of plants through
the placement of small amounts of undifferentiated
tissue or single cells in an artificial environment.
The tissue is placed in a nutrient medium that favors
the production of roots and shoots, and is later
planted normally. By using tissue culture, the
favorable qualities of plants can be precisely
controlled, so that each plant is identical for the
particular quality being sought, whether it may be
disease resistance or plant chemical production.
This technique does not perform better under
variable climatic conditions.
Plantation of ardu
Govt plantations
The leaves are used for fodder purposes where as
the wood is used in cottage industries for making
toys, cricket bat and in match box industry. Since, it is
a light or low energy fuel wood, its use in cottage
industries is being encouraged.
Farmland plantations
The plantations are mainly undertaken by villagers
on field bunds and in homestead plantations for
additional fodder, firewood and cheap timber (Fig. 8).
Around the cities ardu is grown for selling of leaves
to the market to earn some extra money.
Agroforestry plantations Ardu is the fast growing fodder tree and could
be propagated in association with forage and food
crops without jeopardizing their production (Fig. 9).
In agroforestry system, 100 plants of ardu is
recommended in one hectare area for getting
higher fodder production without impairing the soil
fertility and crop production. In this system, the
soil is also enriched in nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon,
sulphur, etc. over a period of few years in spite
of the fact that biomass is annually harvested
as forages.
Industrial plantations
It is highly desirable for matchwood industries and
is worked under the selection system with a minimum
exploitable girth limit. It is a timber of box plank
class, being light and fairly strong. The timber of ardu
used as Grade III and Grade IV plywood. The timber
is used for packing cases in Assam and West Bengal,
fishing floats and sword sheaths. The pulp is used in
paper industry as a substitute for aspen, for printing
papers. Thus, plantations of ardu with economically
poor people and networking with industrial units can
play considerable role in enhancing livelihood in
climate change scenario.
Effects of ardu on crop production In agroforestry system, the tree plants compete
with the crop plants for natural resources like
sunlight, space, nutrients, moisture, etc. The
competition between ardu tree and crops has been
observed negligible or at very low level in
agroforestry system because of the variation in root
and shoot parameters. It was observed that ardu has
no adverse effects on the crops sown as under storey
if proper care is taken. For having better results, the
spacing should be at least 10 m × 10 m. Regular
lopping of the leaves should be done to minimize
shade effect on the crops (and provide as fodder) and
ploughing of the root zone of crops should be done
to remove the lateral roots of the tree so that there
will be no competition between tree and crop.
Mostly wheat, millet, barley, mustard, pulses and
guar crops are being taken with ardu. It was found
that 25 quintal/ha of wheat and 12.5 quintal/ha
of barley can be produced when sown in the
JAT et al.: ARDU – A COMPATIBLE SPECIES OF RESOURCE POOR PEOPLE
109
intermittent space of 10m X 10m ardu plantation.
Trees are planted at the North and West boundaries
of the fields. It is essential to have trees on the
North and West borders of the farm in order to
reduce wind velocity which otherwise cause higher
moisture losses from crop field due to advection.
Farm forestry of ardu is more popular and is being
practiced by the farmers. To maximize biomass
production single, two-tier and multi-tier systems
of fodder production were compared with natural
pasture under arid conditions (Fig. 10). Multi-tier
system provided maximum dry fodder and seed/
grains with the highest net returns followed by
two-tier and single tier system.
Different forage crops, viz. Cenchrus ciliaris,
Cenchrus setigerus and Panicum antidotale were
grown in association with Ailanthus excelsa. The
C. setigerus produced higher forage yield over
other grasses. However in the year of establishment,
C. ciliaris gave slightly higher yield over C. setigerus.
Both the Cenchrus species produced higher yield
than P. antidotale in all the years in association
with Ailanthus excelsa. All the species of grasses
produced maximum biomass in the third year. The
yield of grasses drastically reduced in the sixth year
(Table 11). The tree association did not affect
the yields of grasses, contrarily the complimentary
effect was noticed. A study was carried out under
agroforestry system to find out the effect of ardu on
yields and it was observed that different silvi-pasture
system have produced total dry fodder yield, leaf
yield and fuel wood was not influenced significantly
by ardu association19
. The total dry fodder yield was
significantly at par with all the agroforestry systems.
Higher dry leaf was recorded with Ailanthus excelsa +
Morus alba + grasses (Cenchrus and other grasses),
whereas, higher fuel wood was recorded with
Ailanthus excelsa + Dichrostachys nutans + grasses
association (Cenchrus and other grasses) (Table 12).
Study indicates that growth attributes, dry leaf
production, fuel wood and net income was not
affected by tree association. Highest net income,
fuel wood and dry leaf production was observed in
Ailanthus excelsa +Cenchrus setigerus silvi-pastoral
system (Table 13).
Marketing
Marketing behaviour of selling ardu leaves was
done through a survey conducted in Jaipur, Sikar,
Ajmer and Dausa mandis of Rajasthan. The selling of
the fodder (ardu leaves) is being done either directly
or through agents. If an agent sells fodder of 100,
he gets a commission of 20. The ardu leaves
are sold in terms of Mutthi (Handful of leaves) or
Puli or Bhara/ bundle (Fig.11). One Mutthi is equal
to one handful of leaf, one puli is of approximately
5 kg and one Bhara/ bundle is of approximately
40 kg. Agents purchase the leaf throughout the year
at the rate of 4 per Puli and sold it at the rate of
5 per Puli. The prevailing market rates are one
rupee per kg of leaf. The selling rate of leaf varies
from season to season and place to place. Selling rate
for one mutthi is 1-2, and for puli 4-6 while for
one Bhara/ bundle costs about 100-200. It was
found that one camel cartload having a capacity of
10 quintals (200 puli) of leaf fodder is being sold
at 1000 at site. The total labour cost for lopping and
loading works out to be 20/quintal. Transportation
cost paid to camel cart is Rs.10/km. For example
if the market is 20 km away than the cost for
transportation of camel cart will be 200. In the
months of April- May (peak temperature period),
there seems to be scarcity of green fodder/ leaves
in the market because of harvesting of rabi crops.
So the rates become higher and reached up to 4/kg,
whereas in the month of August, September and
October the leaves are sold at the rate of 2.5-4.0/kg.
After felling the wood is taken to the market on
camel carts by the villagers and sold to the saw mills
at the rate of 100/quintal. After sawing the logs, the
wood having some small timber value and is being
sold at the rate of 13/sq feet. The firewood is being
sold at the rate of 60/quintal. A 10 yrs old tree gives
about 2000 on selling of whole plant so if a farmer
grow tree on boundary at 10 by 10 m distance then
he is able to get 80000/ha without ant expenses
after every 10 yrs. The coppice from the cut-shoots
grows rapidly and is ready to cut after 6 yrs and gave
same amount of money.
Economics
The rotation of ardu is considered as 30 yrs, but it was found to go up to 50 yrs or more. The lopping is
commenced from the fourth year onwards; i.e. leaf fodder from one tree is available for at least 30 yrs. It is estimated that an average tree gives about 1, 2 and >4 quintal green leaf fodder per year when it attains the age of 5, 10 and >20 yrs. If the ardu green leaves in plenty, then farmers stores dry leaves to supply the
dry fodder as ardu leaves during dry period or scanty year to meet out the nutritional requirement of the ruminants/animals (Fig. 12).
INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 10, NO 1, JANUARY 2011
110
Conclusion and policy implications Rajasthan facing trikal situations means there is a
drought after every three years. To cope up with such
type of situation agroforestry is one of the alternatives
for the livelihood security of the local farmers for
whom livestock is an integral component of their
social, economic and environmental system.
Livestock is an important source of income and
employment generation for millions of landless and
small landholders particularly in the resource poor
communities. In Rajasthan, the majority of the
agricultural farmers and livestock farmers have been
predominantly following traditional methods of
livelihood and most of them are economically
vulnerable. The status of farm holding cannot support
a normal productivity compared to Indian average
due to very poor soil condition, scanty rainfall with
high oscillations and sometimes scattered location in
Table 10—Dry matter and seed/grain production in different agroforestry systems (compiled by author)
Agroforestry system Dry fodder production
(q/ha)
Seed of grass /Grains
(q/ ha)
Dry leaves of ardu
(q/ha)
Fuel wood
(q/ha)
Multi-tier system:
(Ailanthus excelsa +Dichrostachys nutans +
Cenchrus setigerus / Vigna radiata)
24.65 3.47
(3.57)*
33.00
(5.20)**
45.00
(2.50)**
Two-tier system: Ailanthus excelsa +
Cenchrus setigerus / Vigna radiata) 26.46
2.98
(3.33)* 30.00 42.00
Single-tier system: Cenchrus setigerus /
Vigna radiata) 26.65
3.68
(3.83)* - -
Natural pasture 16.58 - - -
*Figures in parenthesis indicate the grain yield (q/ha) of crop
** Figures in parenthesis indicate dry leaves of Dichrostachys nutans bush (q/ha)
Table 11—Dry fodder yield of different grasses under ardu based agroforestry system18
Treatments Dry fodder yield of grasses (q/ha)
1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993
A. excelsa + P. antidotale 16.1 25.3 33.7 21.1 16.1 04.5
A. excelsa + C. ciliaris 15.9 33.3 52.5 27.7 23.4 13.8
A. excelsa + C. setigerus 16.9 34.8 53.4 28.3 24.5 13.9
Table 12—Dry fodder production of cenchrus and other grasses along with dry leaf production
from trees and bushes in agroforestry systems19
Dry Fodder (q/ha) Trees and Bushes (q/ha) Agroforestry systems
Cenchrus Other grasses Total yield Dry leaf Fuel wood
Open system 17.00 10.80 27.80 - -
Two-tier: Ailanthus excelsa + forest pasture 15.60 11.33 26.93 24.13 28.32
Three-tier: Ailanthus excelsa +
Morus alba + grasses 15.50 11.20 26.25
20.68
(4.63)
17.77
(4.34)
Three-tier: Ailanthus excelsa +
Dichrostachys nutans + grasses 13.95 11.65 25.60
16.44
(2.54)
22.65
(2.27)
CD at 5% 2.15 NS 3.4 - -
Figures in parenthesis indicate the yield (q/ha) of bushes (Morus alba and Dichrostachys nutans)
Table 13—production Grasses and dry leaf of trees in different agroforestry systems
Treatment
No. of
plants/M2
Grass spreading
area (%)
Plant height
(cm)
Dry fodder
production (q/ha)
Dry leaf production
(kg/tree)
Dry fuel wood
(kg/tree)
Sole
Cenchrus setigerus 6.25 39.20 91.96 21.06 - -
Ailanthus excelsa +
Cenchrus setigerus 5.27 38.20 94.34 19.26 23.50 26.40
Azadirachta indica+
Cenchrus setigerus 2.30 36.20 102.66 19.17 21.20 24.10
Albizia lebbeck +
Cenchrus setigerus 3.80 33.40 83.60 17.99 20.20 22.90
Acacia nilotica +
Cenchrus setigerus 1.70 24.40 91.18 18.47 20.10 20.30
CD at 5% 0.76 5.79 12.24 1.86 - -
JAT et al.: ARDU – A COMPATIBLE SPECIES OF RESOURCE POOR PEOPLE
111
INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 10, NO 1, JANUARY 2011
112
isolated pockets. Agroforestry with ardu species has
an important part to play in the amelioration of the
conditions in arid and arid ecosystems. If properly
planned, ardu based agroforestry can make an
important contribution to the general welfare of the
people living in desert areas, and also to mitigate with
climate change scenario. The living standard of the
people in the desert is low due to effect of harsh
ecosystem. They can not afford other fuels like gas,
kerosene etc. Fire wood is their main fuel and it can
be supplemented by ardu sticks. Ardu planted on
community lands, farm boundaries and in agroforestry
system provides green leaf fodder for ruminants
during the year when no single blade of green grass
is available in the grazing land. Being a widely
adaptable plant, ardu helps in restoration of the
ecosystem, livelihood security of resource poor
farmers of dry regions, thus enhance in combating
ability with extreme weather. Local and indigenous
people are more knowledgeable and major role player
in natural resources management, but they need to be
engaged in research policy and planning20-22
.
Government may emphasize on ardu plantation on range lands, community lands, road avenues on sharing basis with the farmers of adjoining areas as like efforts made in different parts of the World with other plant species
21,22. Women, who constitute a
significant part of the agricultural human resources in Rajasthan and are among the most affected groups from climate change may be imparted self-managed income-generating participatory training programme to improve their skills in community land plantation so that they can earn money by selling ardu leaves,
fuel wood and its trunk even in the extreme weather since ardu can sustain in harsh system. Such policies are need of days
23. If ardu based system is continued
by local community then they may be paid incentives and reward for their contribution in sustaining species of ardu and related socio-ecological dynamics
22-26.
Acknowledgement Authors are thankful to the Indian Council of
Agricultural Research, New Delhi for providing
the financial support. Thanks are due to the Director
of CSWRI for providing necessary facilities for
successful conducting the investigation. Thanks are
also due to the farmers, who grow this tree for
upliftment of economic status and sustaining their
livelihood during droughts. The help received from
Dr CB Gena (Vice-chancellor), Bikaner University,
Bikaner is sincerely acknowledged.
References 1 Gupta RK, Multipurpose trees for Agroforestry systems in
India, Ind J Soil Cons, 8 (1980) 146-156.
2 Mann JS, Role of Ardu (Ailanthus excelsa) and another
trees in agroforestry in semi-arid areas of Rajasthan,
In: Agroforestry Systems for Degraded Lands, Vol I, edited
by Punjab Singh, Pathak PS & Roy MM, (Oxford and IBH
Publishing Co Pvt Ltd, New Delhi), 1994, 289-293.
3 Anonymous, Official Methods of Analysis, 15th edn Vol II,
(Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Washington
DC), 1990.
4 Singh RV, Fodder trees of India, (Oxford & IBH Publishing
Co, New Delhi), 1982, 643.
5 Shetty BV & Singh V, Flora of Rajasthan, Vol I,
(Botanical Survey of India; Deep Printers, 3/26, Ramesh
Nagar, New Delhi), 1987, 176.
6 Bhandari MM, Flora of The Indian Desert, (MPS Repros,
39 BGKT Extn, New Pali Road, Jodhpur), 1990, 88.
7 Chaturvedi MD, Ardu, the tree of distinction, Ind Fmg,
5 (1956) 32-34.
8 Jat HS, Mann JS, Sharma SC & Roop Chand, Distribution
and performance of ardu (Ailanthus sp) in semi-arid
regions of Rajasthan, Ind J Small Rumin, 16 (2) (2010)
232-235.
9 Jat HS, Mann JS & Sharma SC, Selection of model plants
of ardu (Ailanthus sp), Annual Report (2004-05),
(Central Sheep & Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar,
Rajasthan), 2005, 46.
10 Dwivedi AP, Forests: The non-wood resources,
(International Book Distributors, 9/3 Rajpur road, Dehra
Dun), 1993.
11 Sehgal GL, Production performance of broiler lambs fed
pala (Zizyphus nummularia) and ardu (Ailanthus excelsa)
leaves, Ind J Animal Nutri, 9 (2) (1992) 101-103.
12 Shinde AK & Singh VP, Sheep production on rangeland in
arid and semi-arid regions of the country, Ind J Animal Prod
Mgmt, 11 (3) (1995) 123-130.
13 Sankhyan SK, Shinde AZ, Karim SA, Mann JS, Singh NP
& Patnayak BC, Plane of nutrition and growth response
of lambs and kids maintained in 2- and 3- tier silvipasture,
Ind J Animal Sci, 66 (11) (1996) 1194-1197.
14 Malechek JC & Provenza FD, Proc Int Symp, In: Nutrition
and System of Goat Feeding, France, 1981, 411-428.
15 Chaudhary JL & Kumawat JR, Nutritive value of ardu
(Ailanthus excelsa) leaves in sheep and goats, Ind J Animal
Nutri, 21 (1) (2004) 56-59.
16 Watt G, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the India,
Vol I, (Cosmo Publications, 10178-Library Road, Delhi),
1889, 148-152.
17 Dirr MA, Manual of woody landscape plants: their
identification, ornamental haracteristics, culture propagation
and uses, (Stipes Publishing Co, Chaimpaign, IL), 1990,
1007.
18 Singh F, Jain RK & Mallayya, Effect of trees on the yield of
range grasses and vice-versa, Ind J Small Rumin, 2 (2) (1996)
33-37. 19 Sharma SC, Mann JS & Mehta RS, Ardh-sushk Kshetro
mein Tri-stariye Van Charagahon ka Vikas, In: Prakratik Sansadhano ke Parbhandhan mein Krishi-vaniki ka Yogdan, edited by Dadhwal KS & Solanki KR, (Indian Grassland and Forage Research Institute, Jhansi), 2001, 115-116.
JAT et al.: ARDU – A COMPATIBLE SPECIES OF RESOURCE POOR PEOPLE
113
20 Turner NJ & Clifton H, It’s so different today: Climate Change and Indigenous Lifeways in British Columbia, Canada, Global Environ Change, 19 (2009) 180-190.
21 Anonymous, Community based adaptation to climate change: An update, (International Institute for Environment and Development, London, UK), 2009, 1-4.
22 Viana VM, Seeing REDD in the Amazon: a win for people, trees and climate (International Institute for Environment and Development, London, UK), 2009, 1-4.
23 Singh RK & Padung I, Climate change, REDD and
biocultural diversity: Consultation and grassroots initiatives
with Indigenous People of Arunachal Pradesh, Curr Sci,
99 (4) (2010) 421-422.
24 Schiermeier Q, Traditional owners should be paid, Nature
419, 423 (3 October 2002),| doi:10.1038/419423b.
25 Salick J &. Byg A, Indigenous Peoples and Climate
Change, (Tyndall Centre Oxford, UK).
http:www.tyndall.ac.uk/publications/Indigenous poeoples.
pdf (online), 2007.
26 Salick J & Ross N, Traditional peoples and climate change:
Introduction, Global Environ Change, 19 (2009) 137-139.