What is the importance of developing Seabuckthorn plantation?

Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only

Its roots bind soil and fix nitrogen (erosion control), and its berries are nutritious; it thrives in cold deserts like Ladakh and Spiti.

The idea

Seabuckthorn is a thorny shrub of cold deserts. It survives extreme cold and drought, its spreading roots bind loose soil, and bacteria in its root nodules fix nitrogen, so it improves poor land. Its orange berries are very rich in vitamin C.

Planted on bare cold-desert slopes → Roots hold the soil → Nodules add nitrogen → Berries give juice, jam and oil → Extra income in Ladakh and Spiti

Why the others are wrong

(a) Misses its nutritional value — it is a vitamin C-rich “superfruit”.

(b) Accepts biodiesel and timber — it is a shrub, and not a fuel crop.

(d) Accepts biodiesel and timber.

The trap

Jatropha is the famous biodiesel plant of degraded land. Seabuckthorn is a shrub with no timber or fuel use.

Also know

It is called the Leh berry. It is a shrub, so it gives no timber, and its oil is used for health products, not as fuel.