Khagal tree benefits & Uses

 

Khagal tree benefits

Since its inception, Pakistan has been claimed as an agricultural country which has proved to be correct for a number of reasons.  More than two-thirds of the country's population lives in rural areas and relies heavily on agriculture for their livelihood.  The agriculture sector contributes 24% to the GDP and is also a major source of foreign exchange earnings.

  

Despite all these claims, the country's geography is not very conducive to natural flora.  Statistical surveys show that 92% of the country falls in semi-arid and arid regions.  This means that out of 80 million hectares of agriculturally viable land, 75 million hectares are dehydrated.  The land, which is irrigated by heavy rains and rivers, covers an area of ​​only 5 million hectares, the rest of which requires the construction of artificial canals and the digging of wells.  Due to rapid urbanization and excessive pumping, groundwater table is increasing every year, many areas of Pakistan are on the verge of turning into barren lands.  This crawling desert can be catastrophic for the future of an already water-stressed country, so immediate steps need to be taken to prevent this situation.  Another factor contributing to the rapid desertification is disproportionate forests.  Not much has been done to change the effects of deforestation as a result of overnight urbanization.  Usually more trees are cut down every year and then replaced with new ones, affecting the country's ecosystem and range management.

   

There are a number of economic benefits associated with Khagal.  First of all, it is very easy to grow and requires very little water to thrive.  It is an inexpensive plant and can reproduce through seeds, either naturally or through human activity, from an incoming bud of a stem or root, through the process of growing new stems and root plants.  It only needs 4-5 months of initial care until it can take root and secondary shoots.  It does not require any investment in fertilizers or pesticides. Wood has a high commercial value and is mainly used in furniture as well as fuel.  However, its leaves are high in salt and therefore very difficult to burn, a feature that makes it look like a forest fire extinguisher.  Its flowers and cheeks have been used for medicinal purposes since ancient times.  Its bark extract has been found to provide treatment for skin problems such as eczema.  The plant's deep roots protect the soil from soil erosion and its shade provides comfort on hot summer days in harsh desert climates.

  In addition, khagal has a very strong regenerative ability and can regain its maximum size in the years after harvest.  Even with regular pruning, a tree can live for decades.  It makes it an ideal forest plant in arid areas and can meet range management objectives, reviving extinguished natural habitats in such areas.

One of the major drawbacks of this plant is that it secretes a large amount of salt through the salt glands in its leaves.  This makes the surrounding soil infertile for growing other crops but not for halophytes.  These glands actually help the plant maintain a low moisture content and balance the internal solution level.  This method is also a natural defense against insects and pests.  Salts released by Tamarix aphylla include sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, magnesium and calcium salts.  However, after removing the plant, the soil can regain its fertility.  In principle, it will not damage the soil so much if its leaves are removed from the ground, but it will also require a lot of hard work.  Therefore, it would be a bad choice to plant them on rich and fertile land with high crop yields but more profitable on low yielding barren lands.  Bottom lines, declining desert and annual rainfall, and trees like groundwater table trees can play a key role in reclaiming our barren lands with minimal effort and maximum benefits. this type of trees are benefits for economical use.