Forest Ecology and Management, 16 (1986) 49-56 49

Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam - - Printed in The Netherlands

The Uses of Mesquite (Prosopis spp.) in the

Highlands of San Luis Potosi, Mexico*

SERGIO GALINDO ALMANZA1and EDMUNDO GARCIA MOYA2

'Centro Regional para Estudios de Zonas Aridas y Semiaridas, lturbide 73, Salinas de Hidalgo,
78600 San Luis Potosi (Mexico)
2Centro de Botanica, Colegio de Postgraduados, Chapingo 56230 (Mexico)
(Accepted 7 May 1986)

ABSTRACT

Galindo, A.S. and Garcia, M.E., 1986. The uses of mesquite (Prosopis spp.) in the highlands of
San Luis Potosi, Mexico. For. Ecol. Manage., 16: 49-56.

An account is given of the uses of mesquite - - Prosopis laevigata (Humb. and Bonpl. ex Willd. )
M.C. Johnst. and P. glandulosa vat. torreyana (L. Benson) M.C. Johnst. - - in the highlands of
San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The products of mesquite are used as human food, folk medicine, forage,
fuel and for contruction. The plant communities where it is the most important element provide
wildlife refuge, recreation, nectar and desertification control. The development of these species by
cultivation and plant breeding should be directed towards supplying those products in high demand.

INTRODUCTION

Mesquite (Prosopis spp. ) has long been a useful biotic resource for the peo-
ple of the arid and semiarid lands of Mexico, particularly in the highlands of
San Luis Potosi. However, like the rest of the native flora it has not been
seriously considered as an important factor in the economic development of
the region. It is necessary to know the traditional uses of mesquite, to define
those uses with the greatest potential, and to suggest management strategies
conducive to a sustained yield.

LITERATURE REVIEW

Archeological evidence (Felger, 1977) and historic documentation (Her-

nandez, 1959; Clavijero, 1964 ), indicate that various species of mesquite (Pro-

*Joint contribution of the Centro Regional para Estudios de Zonas Aridas y Semiaridas (CRE-
ZAS-CP), Iturbide 73, Salinas de Hidalgo, San Luis Potosi and Centro de Botanica, Colegio de
Postgraduados, Chapingo 56230, Mexico.
50

sopis), were an important source of food, fuel, construction material and even
medicine for the inhabitants of the arid zones of the American continent before
the arrival of the European conquerors and colonizers.
The fruit is consumed readily by livestock: the mesocarp contains 13-36%
sugar (mainly saccharose) while a crude protein content of 55-59% in the
seeds has been reported (Becket and Grosjean, 1980). This protein can be
made available if the entire pod is ground. The quality of the wood is surpassed
by only few species. Since it has a high caloric content (1720 J kg-1). Fur-
thermore the biomass production can be high ( 50-60 ton ha -1 in 10 year rota-
tions) and the wood produced can be converted to an excellent charcoal.
Mesquite nectar yields a good quality honey (Felker, 1979; Anon., 1979, 1980;
Leakey and Last, 1980). The soft, amber colored gum secreted by mesquite
has physical and chemical properties similar to Arabic gum. The wood contains
5-9% tannins and foliage extracts show antibacterial activity (Durso et al.,
1973).
Fruit production of 3000-4000 kg ha-~ has been reported by Felker et al.
(1984) for 5-year old plantations of Prosopis velutina established in Southern
California (370 mm of annual precipitation). A 6 ton h a - 1 y - ~ yield of pods
in a 5-year old plantation has been reported by Lima (1985) for the semiarid
zone of Northeastern Brazil. Felker et al. (1983) mention that P. alba, a South
American species, produces up to 14.5 ton h a - 1 y - 1 of biomass in plantations
located in Imperial Valley, California.
Prosopis spp. are salt tolerant. Felker et al. (1981) examined the salinity
tolerance of 6 species, including P. glandulosa var. torreyana, P. velutina, P.
articulata, P. chilensis, P. paUida and P. tamarugo, in sand culture in the green-
house. All the species tested tolerated 6000 mg l- ~of salinity without reduction
of growth. P. velutina showed a poor tolerance of 12,000 mg l-2. p. articulata,
P. pallida and P. tamarugo showed little reduction in growth at 18,000 mg l- 1
of NaC1 and grew slightly at a 36,000 mg l- ~ NaCl salinity level, equivalent to
seawater.
All 44 Prosopis spp. have the capacity to fix nitrogen. Bailey (1976) was the
first to observe the formation of nodules capable of fixing nitrogen under
greenhouse conditions. Later, Felker and Clark (1980) demonstrated the
capacity of twelve Prosopis spp. to fix nitrogen by acetylene reduction and by
growing them on a N-free solution.
Natural hybridization appears to be common in the genus; this capacity
should enable the transfer of valuable traits among species (Felker, 1979; Felker
et al., 1984; Cornejo et al., 1982).
Cultivation and improvement of mesquite for forage and wood production
has been recommended (Gomez, 1970; Burkart, 1976; Felger and Nabhan, 1978;
Felker, 1979; Anon., 1979; Leakey and Last, 1980; Karlin and Diaz, 1984; Sig-
noret, 1970).
The FAO suggests the use of mesquite for the reforestation of arid and semi-
 51

arid zones (Goor, 1964 ). In 1979, this organization initiated a project of explo-
ration, collection, evaluation, conservation and utilization of tree species for
multiple use, giving priority to Prosopis (Ffolliot and Thames, 1983 ). In 1977
Texas Tech University initiated an interdisciplinary research program dealing
with mesquite utilization (Parker, 1982). Recently an International Associa-
tion of Prosopis has been established with the aim of coordinating and com-
municating the research results of the species of this genus (Habit, 1985).
The mesquite communities play an important role in the maintenance of the
ecological balance in arid ecosystems, providing food and refuge for a wide
range of animals (Mares et al., 1977).

RESULTS

The use of mesquite as human food dates from the Chichimecan Indian
hunters and food-gatherers who wandered throughout the highlands of San
Luis Potosi. The pod can be eaten as fresh fruit or conserved in its own sweet
juice. If the dry pod is ground, it gives a flour which can be mixed with a little
water and eaten immediately. Pressing gives a saleab.le product for domestic
use and the regional market - - according to Hernandez (1959) this method
goes as far back as the Spanish conquest. The juice extracted from fresh fruit
with boiling water can be added to corn flour to form a gruel-like drink. A drink
is also made from mesquite flour boiled with milk or water. The fermentation
of the sugars produces an alcoholic beverage. The gum has a soft consistency
and a sweet flavor and it is used as candy by children.
Mesquite has been widely used in folk medicine. Thebark, ashes of branches,
gum and foliage are used against gastritis and as antiseptic, antidysenteric,
antidiarrheic, and emollient. These uses are disappearing as a result of the
generai introduction ofpatended medicines. Hernandez (1959) and Diaz ( 1976 )
have also recorded these uses in other parts of Mexico.
As the San Luis Potosi region has been repeatedly affected by drought, with
disastrous consequences on crops and livestock, the fruit of the mesquite which
can be eaten by all kinds of livestock, is used as vital forage. The rural popu-
lation collects the dry pods for their animals and stores them for drought periods.
Even though the production varies from year to year, in 1982 a rural coopera-
tive collected over 3000 metric tons of pods in four counties of the state of San
Luis Potosi, and used them to manufacture concentrated feedstuff (Galindo,
1983).
Gomez (1970) reported that in 1965 the mesquite harvest for the sate of San
Luis Potosi was 12,000 metric tons, mostly from the altiplano. Furthermore,
he pointed out that the pod harvest in eight states located in the arid and
semiarid regions of Mexico amounted to 47,000 metric tons.
The uses of mesquite for wood products are numerous. In Mexico, it is used
for charcoal, firewood, logs, fencing posts, boards, and bark for tanning (Anon.,
52

1967-1977). However this widespread use is now threatened since the mes-
quite bosques have been diminishing at a great pace due to deforestation for
agricultural purposes (Rzedowski, 1978; Galindo, 1983). Flores et al. (1971)
reported 12,150,880 ha covered by mesquite but reports in 1978 and 1983 (both
Anon. ) reduce this figure by a half and three quarters, respectively.
Mesquite firewood is considered of the highest quality by the rural people.
However, irrational use for domestic and commercial purposes has led to exces-
sive exploitation of mesquite stands. The overexploitation of mesquite forests
for firewood has been a serious problem ever since colonial times (Beltran,
1956).
In the past, entire rural communities depended on mesquite charcoal, but
production has now diminished as a result of the control exerted by the forestry
authorities and the difficulty in obtaining sizable trunks due to deforestation.
Both firewood and charcoal are sold in the Aguascalientes, San Luis Potosi
and Zacatecas city markets ( Galindo, 1983 ).
Mexico's mean annual mesquite charcoal production is 2770 metric tons, 70
percent of which is produced in Sonora. Most of it (90%) is exported to the
U.S.A. (Anon., 1967-1977). The use of mesquite as charcoal in the foundries
in San Luis Potosi and Zacatecas in colonial times led to the destruction of
large mesquite bosques (Bakewell, 1976).
In the past, furniture, wagons, tools and utensils in rural households were
made of mesquite but due to the lack of adequate tools to work the wood, it is
now used less for these purposes. However, in Guadalupe, Zacatecas, there is
a factory that produces furniture, parquet, doors and windows from mesquite
and these products have a good market at national level. A number of museums
and public and private buildings around the country have mesquite parquet
floors. Small shops which work the wood are widespread in the San Luis Potosi
area, and in some localities almost all the inhabitants obtain the greater part
of their income from this activity. The sawing and milling of mesquite logs for
the construction of furniture has increased in the last years to the point where
it is the most important product in the state of Guanajuato (Anon., 1967-1977).
Many of the fences in the countryside are built with mesquite posts. The
wood is exploited during land clearings in places where mesquite is abundant.
Barrels, casks, miniature wagons, animal figures, sculptures, and toys are
made from mesquite wood throughout the region. They are sold in handicraft
shops and are on exhibit in the Regional Museum of Popular Art in San Luis
Potosi. The manufacture of handicrafts uses small wood pieces that would
otherwise be wasted and so ensures a more complete use of mesquite wood.
Unfortunately this activity is diminishing due to lack economic incentives and
the migration of the artisans to the cities.
Mesquite also plays an important role in enhancing the esthetic qualities of
recreational areas. This is particularly important given the scarcity of recrea-
tional areas in the arid and semiarid zones of Mexico. Small parks with mes-
 53

quite trees are found in the area and provide a good example of the kind of
action that might be undertaken.
There are a number of minor uses for mesquite in Mexico. For example, the
prodigious flowering of mesquite in the springtime produces a considerable
amount of nectar. To take advantage of this resource, the rural people have
established beehives to collect the honey. The accumulation of the litter under
the mesquite tree is used as an organic fertilizer for gardening and in vegetable
nurseries. When the mesquite bosques are felled, a high yield of agricultural
crops can be expected for two or three years due to the enhanced soil fertility
caused by mesquite's nitrogen fixation. Mesquite also provides shade for live-
stock on the range, in corrals and around the home.
Mesquite bark has been used in the tanning industry. In the state of Oaxaca,
up to 40 metric tons in 1966 of mesquite bark have been used for tanning,
although its use has diminished over the last few years (Anon., 1967-1977).
At one time mesquite trunks were used as railway sleepers and mesquite gum
has been used in the manufacture of matches and the gunpowder used in fire-
crackers (Signoret, 1970).

DISCUSSION

There are similarities in the use of Prosopis in the highlands of San Luis
Potosi, other parts of Mexico, and in other regions of the world where the genus
thrives (Burkart, 1976; Felger, 1977; Leakey and Last, 1980; Galindo, 1983).
There is no doubt that reforestation with useful tree species leads to an
improvement in the quality of life of rural dwellers, since it diversifies eco-
nomic activities and improves the environment. The species of mesquite have
multiple uses, are well adapted to arid environments, where they play an
important role in the ecosystem, and are socially accepted. These considera-
tions should place Prosopis on a high priority level in reforestation programs
in the arid and semiarid regions of Mexico. However, the sustained availability
of this plant for present and future demands is in danger, due to deforestation
for agricultural use, charcoal production, firewood, etc.
The collection of mesquite pods is important in the region economically since
it sometimes generates more income for rural families than crop production.
The initiation of projects to breed and plant these species would increase the
availability of good quality forage.
Since in the rural areas of underdeveloped countries lack of firewood is the
main energy problem, an immediate reforestation program with mesquite to
produce firewood is recommended. Mesquite charcoal production and market-
ing should be aimed at the food industry since this sector pays the best price
for mesquite charcoal.
Due to its beauty and durability there is a good market for mesquite furniture
and parquet. It is necessary to promote handicrafts based on mesquite wood
54

both for their cultural value and for the additional income they provide for
artisans.
Modern apicultural techniques should be employed to make efficient use of
the nectar produced by mesquite flowers.
Wide genetic variability has been observed in Prosopis species with potential
for improvement in fruit and biomass production. In addition, their hybridi-
zation capacity would favor genetic improvement which can be enhanced by
achieving vegetative propagation. Goyal et al. (1985) and Arya (1985) have
been working successfully on clonal propagation of mesquite through tissue
culture.
Ecological considerations demand a multiple use concept for the develop-
ment of arid and semiarid zones. In this perspective Prosopis species can play
an important role, provided that research into the potential uses of mesquite
is backed up by action which integrates all these uses into a coherent devel-
opment plan.

CONCLUSIONS

Mesquite management plans should give the highest priority to those uses
which will yield the greatest income for the rural population; these include
gathering and processing the pods, the manufacture of furniture and parquet,
and handicrafts.
The government should regulate firewood cutting and limit charcoal
production.
A mesquite management plan should propose reforestation programs which
provide for pod and fuel production as well as the formation of recreation areas,
wildlife conservation habitats and desertification control.
Experimental trials should be set up to test cultivation practices and improve
forage and wood production.

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