Socio-economic and horticultural potential of Ziziphus species in arid regions of Rajasthan India

Out of various species of Ziziphus, there are three, namely Z. mauritiana Lam., Z. rotundifolia Lam. and Z. nummularia (Burm. f.) wt., that are most abundantly occurring species in drier part of India. Z. mauritiana has socio-economic importance in the rural life of the local people being part of each and every farming system supplying food, fuel, fodder, fencing and nutritious fresh as well as value added products. Z. nummularia is an excellent top feed species producing nutritious leaves locally called 'Pala' serve as good source of fodder for desert livestock such as sheep, goat, camel and cattle. Z. rotundifolia have much value as timber however its importance lies as rootstock for vegetative propagation and played an important role in commercialization of cultivated Z. mauritiana. These species have tremendous potential for improvement and utilization as commercial crop of arid regions. The paper is an attempt to synthesize available information on Ziziphus species, their distribution, botanical description, nutritional and medicinal value, and experimental findings on genotypic diversity, adaptability under progressive drought situation, mass multiplication method, pruning, system based production and rejuvenation of unproductive trees. These information and research findings on improvement, production and utilization of jujube would create a strong commercial opportunities in arid and semi arid regions.