General Information :

• It is medium - sized to a large Evergreen tree
• Leaves dark green with greenish white colored flowers.
• Fruits are follicular with numerous seeds.

Distribution :

• It is found throughout the moist regions of India.
• It is common in west coast forests.

Habitat : It common Tropical semi-evergreen and Deciduous forest.

Soil : Red soil and black soil are best, tolerates clayey soil.

Altitude :Up to 900 m (MSL)

Rainfall :700-1500 mm

Temperature : 34°C to 46°C

Terrain : Plain/hilly

Tree Characteristics :

• It is a moderate shade bearer.
• Prefers moist soil and coppice freely.

Habit : Deciduous Tree

Natural Regeneration :

Natural Regeneration

• It regenerates itself naturally under favorable conditions.

Artificial Regeneration

• It can be easily propagated by direct sowing, and nursery raised seedlings.

Seed collection and Storage

•  The fruits are collected from April to June
• Pods are dried in the sun for a day or two to hasten opening.
• Seeds can be stored in sacks until May.
• A kg of fruit produces about 20 gm of clean seeds.

Seed Treatment

• No pre- treatment is necessary

Nursery Technique

• The seeds are sown broadcast in the shaded sunken beds with good porous soil.
• Sowing done in April- May .
• About 35gm of clean seed is required per square meter of nursery bed.
• Seeds are mixed with fine powered earth before sowing.
• The beds are regularly weeded and watered
• Small seedlings about 7.5 cm in height are suitable for transplanting into nursery bags.

Plantation technique :

• The land is prepared by loosening the soil through ploughing and is made porous.
• Weathering of dug out soil for about one to two months is essential.
• Pit size 45 x 45 x 45 cm
• Spacing 5m x 5m or 5m x 6m can be adopted.

Care & Disease Control :

  ·         Weeding and soil working are required in the first two years.    ·      Deep mulching for young trees should be ensured.                                                                                                                               

Irrigation :

• Pit irrigation is required in summer season at weekly intervals when planted without intercrop.
• In case of intercropping, flood method of irrigation is beneficial.
• Light irrigation at an interval of 15–20 days in winter season.

Recommended Harvest :

• 6 – 8 year for fuel wood

Yield :

• Approximately 120-130 tons/ ha*

*Subject to varry according to site factors.

Agro Forestory :

• Annual herbs of medicinal value can be grown as intercrops – Curcuma longa (turmeric), Curcuma angustifolia (tikhur), and Alpinia galanga (kulinjan).

Major uses :

• Wood is mostly used for packing cases.
• It is also used for making furniture, black boards.
• It can be peeled easily and accepted as III class commercial plywood after necessary treatment.
• It is good manufacturing both matches and splints, and fairly suitable for second grade pencil

Market details :

• Approximately Rs.2500 to Rs.3000/ton*

*Subject to change according to market demands