Soil improver, soil reclamation and erosion control
Though not a legume, mahua develops mycorrhizal associations able to fix atmospheric N. Its extensive superficial root system binds the soil and limits erosion. In India, mahua was used in soil reclamation on hard lateritic soils. Fallen leaves on the soil provide organic matter but they do not break down as easily compared to teak leaves or Shorea robusta leaves (Bargali et al., 2015; Manna et al., 2004). Mahua seed cake is used as a fertilizer and to control root-knot nematode (Orwa et al., 2009; Yadav et al., 2005).