Tamarugo (Prosopis tamarugo)

Datasheet

Description

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Common names

Tamarugo

Species

Prosopis tamarugo F. Phil. [Fabaceae]

Related feed(s)

Description

The tamarugo (Prosopis tamarugo F. Phil.) is a deciduous legume tree growing up to 18 m high, with a crown ranging from 15 m to 20 m in diameter. Its root system consists of a deep taproot (down to 6 m) with lateral roots (down to 1.5 m). Leaves are bipinnate with 10-15 pairs of 5 mm long leaflets. Spike-like inflorescences bear golden yellow flowers. Fruits are peanut-shaped pods borne in clusters, 2 to 4 cm long. They contain an edible pulp and ovate seeds (3-4.3 mm long) (Orwa et al., 2009).

Distribution

The tamarugo is native to Chile (part of the Atacama desert is known as Pampa del Tamarugal) (Duke, 1983). It is also found in Argentina and was introduced into India and other saline deserts of the world. It can grow up to an altitude of 1500 m. It thrives on salty sandy soils or clay loamy soils with a salt encrustation to a depth of 60 cm. It prefers the normal desert climate: high day temperatures, a large day-to-night temperature range, almost total lack of rainfall and intense sunlight. Tamarugo can withstand 10 to 12 months of drought (Ecocrop, 2009).

Forage management

Yield

Trees begin to be productive after 6-7 years and have a very long productive life. Tree productivity is reported to be 160 kg of pods, leaves and small twigs per year (Ecocrop, 2009).

Carrying capacity

The carrying capacity of tamarugo depends on forest age: no grazing should be allowed before 6 years, a 10-year-old forest can support 1 sheep/ha and a 16-year-old forest can support 16 sheep/ha (Cadahia, 1970). A 13.7 sheep/ha capacity is reported for a 13.5 m x 13.5 m tree spacing (Elgueta et al., 1971), while other sources suggest stocking rates from 1.5 sheep/ha (BOLDIS, 1990) to 26 sheep/ha (Orwa et al., 2009).

Environmental impact

At the beginning of the 20th century, the tamarugo was almost extinct (Carvallo et al., 1983) when a forest inspector noticed its ecological interest and created tamarugo plantations in the Pampa del Tamarugal. Since then, the tamarugo has been used to afforest saline deserts and has increased the overall productivity of the Tamarugal (Orwa et al., 2009). The tree absorbs air moisture through its leaves and dispatches the collected water to its roots and to the surrounding soil (Habit et al., 1981), thus participating in the protection of soil water reserves. It is also a windbreaker and protects animals and people from the sun (FAO, 2009).

Nutritional aspects

Ruminants

Fruits and leaves are palatable to sheep, goats and cattle (Göhl, 1982). In the desert conditions of the Pampa del Tamarugal in Northern Chile, sheep, goats and cattle are fed with the leaves and pods of planted and natural stands of Prosopis tamarugo and Prosopis chilensis. This forage alone cannot support growth or reproduction and needs supplementation with protein and energy feeds such as alfafa hay and wheat bran (Zelada, 1986).

Cattle

In cattle, feeding tamarugo may result in a loss of appetite due to mineral deficiency. Supplementation with vitamins A, D and E is required in calves and pregnant animals (Zelada, 1986).

Sheep

Tamarugo can support maintenance requirements of sheep under free grazing, in spite of a low dry matter digestibility (50%). Mineral (Co, Fe, Ca, Mg, P) and vitamin A supplementation is required (Göhl, 1982). Sheep prefer fruits to leaves (FAO, 2009). Free grazing leads to better production results (Lanino, 1966 cited by Habit et al., 1981).

Nutritional tables

Tables of chemical composition and nutritional value

Avg: average or predicted value; SD: standard deviation; Min: minimum value; Max: maximum value; Nb: number of values (samples) used

Tamarugo pods with seeds

Main analysis	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
Dry matter	% as fed	93.6	2.5	90.4	96.7	7
Crude protein	% DM	12.0	1.4	9.2	13.3	9
Crude fibre	% DM	32.1	2.2	28.8	35.5	9
Ether extract	% DM	1.6	0.3	1.2	2.3	9
Ash	% DM	5.3	0.9	4.3	6.4	9
Gross energy	MJ/kg DM	17.1				1

Minerals	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
Calcium	g/kg DM	2.3		2.2	2.4	2
Phosphorus	g/kg DM	2.7		2.6	2.7	2
Potassium	g/kg DM	16.5		12.0	20.9	2
Sodium	g/kg DM	0.7		0.5	0.8	2
Magnesium	g/kg DM	1.2		1.0	1.3	2
Manganese	mg/kg DM	31		30	32	2
Zinc	mg/kg DM	24		21	27	2
Copper	mg/kg DM	12		12	12	2
Iron	mg/kg DM	100		90	110	2

Ruminant nutritive values	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
OM digestibility, Ruminant	%	83.9	9.7	46.0	83.9	3	*
Nitrogen digestibility, ruminants	%	52.1	7.3	41.4	57.6	4

Pig nutritive values	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
Energy digestibility, growing pig	%	39.7					*
DE growing pig	MJ/kg DM	6.8					*

The asterisk * indicates that the average value was obtained by an equation.

References

Habit et al., 1981; Latrille et al., 1971; Pak et al., 1977

Last updated on 24/10/2012 00:43:21

Tamarugo seeds

Main analysis	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
Dry matter	% as fed	90.8				1
Crude protein	% DM	27.2		27.1	27.3	2
Crude fibre	% DM	10.2		9.5	10.8	2
Ether extract	% DM	4.5		3.7	5.3	2
Ash	% DM	4.7		3.3	6.1	2
Gross energy	MJ/kg DM	18.7				1

Minerals	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
Calcium	g/kg DM	1.9				1
Phosphorus	g/kg DM	2.1				1
Potassium	g/kg DM	11.1				1
Sodium	g/kg DM	0.3				1
Magnesium	g/kg DM	2.6				1
Manganese	mg/kg DM	51				1
Zinc	mg/kg DM	72				1
Copper	mg/kg DM	20				1
Iron	mg/kg DM	160				1

Ruminant nutritive values	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
OM digestibility, Ruminant	%	90.8					*

Pig nutritive values	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
Energy digestibility, growing pig	%	74.2					*
DE growing pig	MJ/kg DM	13.8					*

The asterisk * indicates that the average value was obtained by an equation.

References

Habit et al., 1981; Pak et al., 1977

Last updated on 24/10/2012 00:43:21

Tamarugo leaves, green

Main analysis	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
Dry matter	% as fed	43.7				1
Crude protein	% DM	35.7				1
Crude fibre	% DM	3.0				1
Ether extract	% DM	3.0				1
Ash	% DM	28.4				1
Gross energy	MJ/kg DM	15.0					*

Ruminant nutritive values	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
OM digestibility, Ruminant	%	25.2				1
Nitrogen digestibility, ruminants	%	12.7				1

The asterisk * indicates that the average value was obtained by an equation.

References

Habit et al., 1981

Last updated on 24/10/2012 00:43:21

Tamarugo leaves, dry

Main analysis	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
Dry matter	% as fed	91.2	0.5	90.5	91.7	4
Crude protein	% DM	12.0	2.4	9.0	15.9	6
Crude fibre	% DM	13.8	4.5	9.9	22.3	6
Ether extract	% DM	2.0	0.7	1.3	3.3	6
Ash	% DM	17.2	6.2	9.8	24.3	6
Gross energy	MJ/kg DM	16.1		14.7	17.6	2

Minerals	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
Calcium	g/kg DM	25.0		14.4	35.5	2
Phosphorus	g/kg DM	2.2		1.9	2.5	2
Potassium	g/kg DM	17.4		16.2	18.6	2
Sodium	g/kg DM	0.7		0.3	1.1	2
Magnesium	g/kg DM	4.3		3.9	4.6	2
Manganese	mg/kg DM	253		136	369	2
Zinc	mg/kg DM	33		24	42	2
Copper	mg/kg DM	21		17	24	2
Iron	mg/kg DM	345		230	460	2

Ruminant nutritive values	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
OM digestibility, Ruminant	%	38.7				1
Nitrogen digestibility, ruminants	%	55.0				1

The asterisk * indicates that the average value was obtained by an equation.

References

Habit et al., 1981; Latrille et al., 1971; Pak et al., 1977

Last updated on 24/10/2012 00:43:21

References

BOLDIS, 1990. Saline Agriculture: salt tolerant plants for developing countries. Report of a Panel of the Board on Science and Technology for International Development Office of International Affairs. National Research Council. National Academy Press Washington, DC
Cadahia, D., 1970. Informe sobre el Plan Forestal Ganadero Pampa del Tamarugal. Chile, Corporación de Fomento de la Producción. Estudio FAO para BID
Carvallo, T. N. ; Sudzuki, H. F., 1983. Reforestation of the Pampa del Tamarugal, Chile, with Prosopis tamarugo. Rivista di Agricoltura Subtropicale e Tropicale, 77 (2): 191-207
Clinch, N. J. L. ; Bennison, J. J. ; Paterson, R. T., 1993. Use of trees by livestock 1: Prosopis. National Resources Institute, Chatham, UK, 17 p.
Duke, J. A., 1983. Handbook of Energy Crops. NewCROPS web site, Purdue University
Ecocrop, 2009. Ecocrop database. FAO
Ecoport, 2009. Ecoport database. Ecoport
Elgueta S. ; H. ; Calderon, S., 1971. Prosopis tamarugo Phil. for livestock forage in the Pampa del Tamarugal. Informe Tecnico, Instituto Forestal (38): 37pp
FAO, 2009. Grassland Index. A searchable catalogue of grass and forage legumes. FAO, Rome, Italy
Göhl, B., 1982. Les aliments du bétail sous les tropiques. FAO, Division de Production et Santé Animale, Roma, Italy
Habit, M. A. ; Contreras, D. ; Gonzalez, R. H., 1981. Prosopis tamarugo: fodder tree for arid zones. FAO, Plant production and Protection Paper 25. Rome
Jolly, M. S. ; Sen, S. K. ; Das, M. G., 1976. Silk from the forest. In: Unasylva 28 (4), No. 114 - Employment
Lanino, R. I. , 1966. Comparison of three sheep breeds fed with tamarugo (Prosopis tamarugo Phil.) (Pampa del Tamarugal). Universidad de Chile, Facultad de Agronomía, 80 p. Thesis
Lima, P. C. F., 1994. Comportamento silvicultural de especies de Prosopis, em Petrolina-PE, Região Semi-Arida Brasileira. PhD thesis, Universidade Federal do Parana, Brazil
Orwa, C.; Mutua, A.; Kindt, R.; Jamnadass, R.; Anthony, S., 2009. Agroforestree Database: a tree reference and selection guide version 4.0. World Agroforestry Centre, Kenya
Zelada, G. L., 1986. The influence of the productivity of Prosopis tamarugo on livestock production in the Pampa del Tamarugal - a review. Forest Ecology and Management, 16 (1-4): 15-31

Datasheet citation

Heuzé V., Tran G., 2015. Tamarugo (Prosopis tamarugo). Feedipedia, a programme by INRAE, CIRAD, AFZ and FAO. https://feedipedia.org/node/555 Last updated on June 3, 2015, 14:03

English correction by Tim Smith (Animal Science consultant) and Hélène Thiollet (AFZ)

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Tamarugo (Prosopis tamarugo)