Neglected and Underutilized Plant-Based Land Restoration focuses specifically on those plants frequently overlooked but holding high potential for their resilience and natural adaptation potential even in harsh climatic conditions In addition to being less expensive than other solutions, these plants have the ability to support livelihoods in presence of poor soil fertility, water scarcity, and other yield-limiting factors, key to meeting the challenges of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030). Neglected and underutilized plant species are naturally invasive on abandoned, pastoral and degraded lands in many countries of the world. Utilized appropriately, however, they can transform lands and restore productive and beneficial plant life. Presenting promising and affordable restoration practices for transforming degraded lands, the book also provides an excellent basis for future research though both practical and theoretical insights. This book includes specific sections focusing on plant-species level approaches, using plant groups in land restoration efforts, case studies to highlight real-word examples, and coverage of the latest technologies, policies and perspectives. Neglected and Underutilized Plant-Based Land Restoration is an important single-source reference for researchers and academics as well as advanced students in plant, soil and environmental sciences.
Table of Contents
Section A: Introduction1.Prospects for utilizing neglected and underutilized plants in land restoration
Section B: Neglected and Underutilized Plant Species Level Land Restoration
2. Neglected and underutilized plant Prosopis Juliflora in land restoration
3. Saccharum spontaneum: neglected and underutilized perennial grass for land restoration programs
4. Calamagrostis epigejos: neglected grass for land restoration
5. Lasiurus scindicus (Sewan grass): a neglected forage grass for arid land restoration
6. Balanites aegyptiaca, Ziziphus mauritiana, and Borassus aethiopum: neglected tree species that restore land and feed millions
7. Promotion of underutilized Sesamum indicum for land restoration and edible oil security
8. Exploiting underutilized sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) for degraded land restoration and food security
Section C: Neglected and Underutilized Plant Groups in Land Restoration
9. Exploring neglected and underutilized energy plants in restoration of degraded lands
10. The importance of neglected and underutilized medicinal and aromatic plants in land restoration
11. Neglected and underutilized oilseed plants for land restoration
12. Neglected and underutilized pulses for land restoration
13. Exploiting neglected and underutilized millets in land restoration for sustainable livelihoods
14. Promotion of neglected and underutilized plants in ornamental systems for land restoration
15. Neglected and underutilized traditional vegetable plants for land restoration
16. Underutilized and neglected fodder plants for land restoration
Section D: Case Studies and Pilot Works Based on Neglected and Underutilized Plants for Land Restoration
17. Fiber plants of Asia Pacific that restore land and improve economic conditions
18. Promotion of underutilized tuber crops for land restoration and nutritional security in SAARC countries
19. Promotion of underutilized fruit crops of Indian arid and semi-arid regions for land restoration
20. Case studies of neglected and underutilized plant-based land restoration
Section E: Technological Perspective & Policy Perspective for neglected and underutilized plant-based land restoration
21. Neglected and underutilized plant species in agroforestry systems: Perspectives for land restoration and food sustainability
22. Identifying the key role of ruderal species in degraded land restoration
23. Cultivation system of underutilized and neglected plants for land restoration
24. Promotion of neglected and underutilized plants for industrial waste dump sites restoration: Policy and Governance Perspective
25. Economic impact and social challenges associated with the use of neglected and underutilized plants for land restoration
