**9. Effects of** *Prosopis juliflora* **on the economy**

#### **9.1 Use of** *Prosopis juliflora*

Introducing species to new locations had tremendous contributions to societal development [75]. Due to this, human welfare had improved the introduction of its parts out of its native ranges. Trade enabled modern societies to benefit from the unmatched movement and formation of species in the world [91]. Wood sources of *P. juliflora* were also used either as fuel wood or structural material. As a fuel, it could be burned directly or formed as charcoal, and timber, it can be used poles or formed into different types of furniture [24].

*P. juliflora* pods and seeds are consumed by a wide variety of animals, both in their native range and where it was hosted, and it is an important mammalian diet when trees were existent in large numbers [43]. For instance, a study by Ilukor et al. [92] in the Afar region of Ethiopia shows that households fed their animals with leaves and pods of *P. juliflora*. However, feeding animals that consumed only *P. juliflora* leaves and pods caused acrimonious milk and lost body weight of animals [93]. *P. juliflora* branches were widely used as fencing posts, while its pods high in protein and sugars were important food for human being [24]. *P. juliflora* species had also ameliorating effects on soil under natural and semi-natural systems because of nitrogen fixation and leaf litter incorporated into the soil improved physical and nutritional status of soil. These had reduced the use of inorganic fertilizers commercially purchased by land managers in the invaded regions. High mineral content and rapid decay of small leaves were favorable characteristics for the use of foliage as a soil ameliorant. Compost making could detoxify its allelochemical effects on germination and growth of plants [94]. In addition, when added to agricultural and forest fields, compost made from leaf of *P. juliflora* replaced the cost incurred to commercial fertilizers in various countries. Other uses of *P. juliflora* are flowers for the supply of nectar and pollen as bee forage to produce honey. Flower of *P. juliflora* is small, yellow, and gathered on long inflorescences producing pollen and nectar that is high in protein and sugars [43]. Although *P. juliflora* has diverse economic values, the use of the plant is limited. In Ethiopia, for example, local communities in the invaded areas used the plant only for animal feed, fuel wood, charcoal, and construction purposes [2]. These indicate that *P. juliflora* was underutilized in the

invaded areas of the country that made it easy invasion and threatened vegetation ecosystems and affected native plant species.
