The availability, fruit yield, and harvest of Myrica esculenta in Kumaun (West Himalaya), India.

摘要

Kaiphal (Myrica esculenta) is a popular, potentially income-generating wild edible fruit tree, widely distributed between 900 and 2100 m altitude in the Indian Himalaya. The medium-sized evergreen species is preferentially found within either pine (Pinus roxburghii), or oak (Quercus leucotrichophora) or mixed oak forests, contributing 15-26% of total tree density. It performs best in P. roxburghii forests. However, natural regeneration of M. esculenta is poor in all habitats. A study was conductedin Kumaun, India, to analyse occurrence of M. esculenta in different forest habitats, regeneration patterns, fruit yields (real and potential), and trends in the collection and marketing of fruit. Summary results are tabulated. The recruitment of M. esculenta increased consistently from stands with abundant M. esculenta to those with no M. esculenta. Fruit yield was higher from larger trees, and differed between forest habitats. Potential fruit yield was estimated to be between 2.0 and 4.2 tonnes/ha, ofwhich, at present, 2.8 to 7.2% is harvested for income generation. The income generated from marketing of M. esculenta fruit is significant, considering the regional annual per capita income. The possible impact of fruit harvesting and other disturbancefactors on the regeneration of the species is discussed. There are significant options for enhancing the income-generating potential of this species.