Robert Becker

Alternative crops for sustainable agricultural systems

Abstract The lack of suitable and appropriate crops has been a poorly recognized obstacle to the application of sound agroecological practices in some temperate and tropical regions. Cultivation of traditional hybrid crops in inherently hostile environments forces increased managerial and economic expenditures. Selection of ecologically harmonious crops exploits, rather than opposes natural forces. Based in part on US-AID funded research, we have identified three crops suitable for temperate/tropical cultivation. Amaranthus is recognized in Asia and Central and South America as a food crop that can be grown as a leafy vegetable or as a seed grain in mixed croppings. It does well under a wide variety of conditions using established cultural methods. It is nutritious and highly palatable and, in many areas, is well recognized in the market place. Prosopis species (mesquite) leguminous trees occur worldwide in arid and semi-arid areas. As phreatophytes, they are resistant to drought and high temperature extremes and produce abundant yields of edible beanlike pods. Using the beans from the tree, a variety of attractive, marketable food products have been prepared. We have also identified intermediate wheat-grass, a perennial relative of wheat, as an ecologically and economically attractive alternate crop. It is already a well-established range crop; grown for seed, it becomes a useful grain intercrop. The wholegrain or endosperm mill fractions make excellent tasting, appetizing and attractive baked products. Ongoing agronomic studies indicate it is especially suitable for balancing ecologically unstable areas.

Nutritional quality of the fruit from the chanar tree (Geoffroea decorticans)

The morphological and chemical composition and nutritive properties of chanar seed were investigated. The mean pod weight and approximate percentage of pod pericarp, endocarp and seed were determined. Chanar seedlings were inoculated with Rhizobium mesquite and R. tesota and in each case were found to nodulate. The pericarp contained 4.8 percent protein, 1.3 percent fat, 17.2 percent fiber, 2.4 percent ash, 22.7 percent hemicellulose and 48.4 percent sugar, sucrose being the preponderant pericarp sugar. The seeds contained about 29.4 percent protein, 48.9 percent fat, 7.7 percent sugar and 10.5 percent hemicellulose. Linolenic and oleic were the preponderant fatty acids. The seed protein FAO chemical score was 65 with lysine the limiting amino acid followed by methionine + cysteine with a score of 66. Rats fed milled chanar pods lost weight and ate less than the control and had an adjusted PER of —3.97. The diet and nitrogen disgestibility were approximately 67 percent and 1.2 percent, respectively. Low l...

NUTRITIONAL EVALUATION AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF SEEDS FROM DESERT IRONWOOD (OLNEYA TESOTA)

SUMMARY The nutritional attributes of desert ironwood (Olneya tesota) seeds from three different trees were examined. The seeds contained 17–21% protein, 33–39% lipid, and large amounts of canavanine which was not extracted by traditional cooking methods. The amino acid, mineral, and sugar contents were also determined. The mean amino acid score was 38, with methionine plus cysteine the limiting amino acids. Feeding uncooked seed meal to rats results in a Protein Efficiency Ratio of 0.37 and a diet and nitrogen digestibility of 89% and 81% respectively. Cooking raised the PER.