The importance of Butea monosperma for the restoration of degraded lands

The present study emphasized the importance of Butea monosperma (native tree species), not only as an ideal economic investment that can be utilized in many different manners but also as an species of enormous potential for restoration of degraded lands. Here, we evaluate the changes in chemical, microbial and enzymatic activities of rhizosphere soils (RS) of Butea and compared with bare lands (disturbed lands) to assess its ecological suitability for recovery. We collected 50 soil samples from Butea rhizosphere as well as from bare land soil. Soil pH and electrical conductivity (EC) were significantly lower in rhizospheric soils in comparison to bare land soils, while water holding capacity (WHC), organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase and alkaline phosphatase activities were significantly higher in rhizospheric soil. Decrease in soil pH, EC and increases in soil nutrients, microbial biomass and soil enzyme activities suggests that Butea can be potential species to restore and enhance the biological activities of degraded lands and further to facilitate the vegetation establishment. However, further extensive research is required for better insights in this aspect.