EARLY GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF LATIN AMERICAN PROSOPIS SPECIES IN INDIAN ARID TRACT

Abstract

Six exotic Prosopis species, mainly of Latin American origin (Le. P. nigra, P.
flexuosa, P. chilensis, P. alba, Prosopis hybrid and Prosopis species-peruvian)
were studied for their early growth performance. Moreover, these exotics are
simultaneously compared with P. jUlifiora for early growth behaviour. Prosopis
species-peruvian and P. alba have shown best over all growth performance. In
general, P. juliflora could not attain better overall growh than these exotics. The
high degree of adaptability and appreciable early growth performance of Prosopis
species (peruvian) and P. alba make them a very suitable candidate for arid
zone plantation forestry activities.