The 44 species of trees and shrubs within the genus Prosopis are mainly to be found in the semi-arid and arid regions of the world. Being leguminous the trees fix atmospheric nitrogen and produce protein-rich leaves and beans which are recognized as providing valuable feedstuffs for livestock. Some species (e.g. P.juliflora) have pods rich in sugar which maybe of high nutritional value. In addition, the trees are generally very tolerant of poor and saline soils as well as of hot, dry atmospheric conditions. Within the species there is very considerable genetic variability, not only allowing the colonization of a wide range of arid and semi-arid habitats, but also permitting the possibility of genetic improvement towards higher productivity and higher quality food. Prosopis has demonstrated its potential as one of the best (often the only) forage trees for dry areas, by producing higher and more regular yields of feedstuffs than conventional forage crops. Prosopis species: aspects of their value, research and development is the title of proceedings of the Prosopis symposium held by the Centre for Overseas Research and Development (CORD) at the University of Durham, UK in July 1992 with sponsorship from FAO, UNESCO, CTA and the International Prosopis Association (IPA). The symposium brought together specialists from around the world with acknowledged expertise in different species of Prosopis and in different aspects of research into them, with the aim of defining current problems of the utilization of Prosopis species as a food and feed resource and to propose research and development strategies to overcome these problems.
The volume incorporates the full proceedings of the Prosopis symposium including all the papers.
出版物详细信息
- 已出版: 1992
- 出版者: Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations
- ISBN-10: 1898320004
- Dewey Decimal: 634.973
- ECHO 图书馆: 634.973 DUT