Description

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Context:

The Forest Department, along with an NGO from Kanniyakumari, is engaged in a pilot project to remove an invasive cover crop called Mucuna bracteata from rubber plantations and forest areas in the district.

About Mucuna bracteate

Aspect	Details
Type	Invasive cover crop; leguminous vine
Initial Purpose	Introduced to rubber plantations as a weed regulator and nitrogen fixer due to its drought tolerance.
Spread	Found in parts of the Western Ghats, including Kaliyal, Kadayumoodu, Aarukani, Kodayar, and Kulasekaram.
Negative Impact	Overpowers rubber trees and native trees, affecting their growth. Covers large areas of the Kodayar region.
Proximity to Wildlife	Adjacent to the buffer zone of the Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, a critical tiger habitat.
Other Invasive Plants	Lantana, Parthenium
Primary Habitat	Particularly widespread in the Kanniyakumari rainforest, especially in abandoned rubber plantations.

What are leguminous crops?

Leguminous crops are plants that belong to the Fabaceae family, also known as the pea family, and are grown for human consumption:

Examples: Lentils, peas, broad beans, chickpeas, soybeans, beans, and peanuts

Characteristics

They can grow in soils that are low in nitrogen.
They don't compete with other crops for nitrogen.
They release nitrogen back into the soil if it's not used.
Their fruit is always a pod.
They have root nodules that contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria called Rhizobium.

Benefits

They can improve soil structure and reduce soil erosion.
They can increase the nitrogen content of soil when their plant residues decompose.

Source:

THE HINDU

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Mucuna bracteata is an invasive species in India. It is primarily associated with which of the following?

Rubber plantations
Tea estates
Coffee plantations
Spice cultivation

Select the correct answer using the code below:

A) 1 only

B) 1 and 3 only

C) 2 and 4 only

D) 1, 3 and 4 only

Answer: A

Explanation:

Mucuna bracteata is an invasive leguminous vine introduced to rubber plantations as a weed and nitrogen regulator. It has spread to areas such as the Western Ghats and has become a menace by overpowering rubber trees and affecting native plant growth.