Khirni chuhara: A phytochemically rich nutritional substitute for tribal farmers

Abstract

The Khirni or Rayan botanically known as Manilkara hexandra (Roxb.)Dubard is an economically multipurpose tree of the family Sapotaceae. The tree is medium size, evergreen with spreading growth habit. It bears oval, sweet edible fruit with one or more seeds. It is commercially used as a rootstock for vegetative propagation of sapota in different parts of the country. The fruit is good source of iron, sugars, minerals, protein and carbohydrate etc. The plant can tolerate drought conditions if occurs for some time as well as heavy rainfall conditions. Hot semi-arid zone is characterized by the low annual rainfall (750 mm) and the rainy spells are confined to 3 wet months (July to September) and the remaining parts of the year are dry months. The rains are also erratic and often come in a few storms of short duration which results in great runoff without charging the soil moisture profile resulting into water stress in soil during major parts of the year. Arid and semi-arid regions have peculiar eco- climatological features in which several major agronomical crops fail to sustain. It is very hardy and thrives well on rocky and gravelly soils.