Government of India encourages the cultivation of ’sea buckhorn’. What is the importance of this plant? 1. It helps in controlling soil erosion and in preventing desertification 2. It is a rich source of biodiesel 3. It has nutritional value and is well-adapted to live in cold areas of high altitudes. 4. Its timber is of great commercial value. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is a hardy, deciduous shrub highly valued for its ecological and nutritional benefits. It is extensively used for soil erosion control and preventing desertification due to its well-developed root system and nitrogen-fixing nodules that enrich poor soils [2]. The plant is exceptionally well-adapted to cold, high-altitude regions, such as the Ladakh cold desert in India, where it grows naturally at altitudes between 1,200 and 4,500 meters [2]. Nutritionally, its berries are rich in vitamins, flavonoids, and antioxidants, providing significant medicinal value for cardiovascular health [1]. While research has explored its seed oil for biodiesel production, it is not considered a primary or 'rich' source of biodiesel compared to dedicated oil crops. Furthermore, as a shrub or small tree, it does not produce timber of great commercial value; its primary economic value lies in its berries and ecological services [2].

Sources

1. [2] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0960148123000812
2. [1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12469302/