General Information :

• Acacia nilotica is an evergreen tree.
• Leaves are greenish grey in color
• Flowers yellow in color.
• Pods are long flattened, blackish-brown.

Distribution :

• It is indigenous to the western parts of India.
• It is widely planted throughout the hot regions of India

Habitat : Tropical and Deciduous forest

Soil : Red, Red sandy loam, Red loamy, Sandy/Gravel, Clay, Clay loam, Coastal alluvium and Alluvium soils

Altitude : 200 - 1270 m (MSL)

Rainfall : 200 - 1270 mm

Temperature : 40°C to 48°C

Terrain : Plains, Undulating land, Riverain areas.

Tree Characteristics :

• Drought resistant and frost tender.
• It has High coppicing power  

Habit : Evergreen Tree.

Natural Regeneration :

Natural Regeneration :

• Babul reproduces naturally through seeds and seedling coppice.
• Germination takes place during rains.

Artificial Regeneration :

• Propogated by direct sowing and Nursery Raised Seedlings.

Seed collection and Storage :

• The tree seeds well almost every year,
• Seeds are collected during May-June by ground collection .
• Seeds are stored in gunny bags or in tins
• Properly cleaned seeds are stored in air tight container for 3 years.
• The Germination percentage is 50-90. 
• Seed weight is 6600-11600/Kg

Seed Treatment :

• Soaking in hot water for 30 minutes is more effective
• Soaking in cold water for 48 hrs.

Nursery Techniques : Nursery Beds:

• Sowing can be done in well prepared nursery beds in February-March.
• The seed beds must have well drained Sandy-loam soils.
• Immediate watering to seeds beds should be ensured.
• Germination begins in 2-4 days.
• Two leaf stage seedlings are transferred from the mother beds to polybags.

Nursery Raised Seedlings:

• Pretreated seeds are sown in polybags of size 10 cm x 20 cm or 13 cm x 25 cm which are filled with mixture of  Red earth, sandy loam and FYM in the ratio of 2:1:1.
• Two seeds are sown per bag in February-March.
• The germination starts in a week and completes in 15 days
• Retain only one healthy plant at the time of first weeding.
• Poly bags are regularly watered.
• The seedlings attain plantable height in 4 months i.e. 50-60 cm.

 

Plantation technique :

Nursery raised plants :

• The 30 cm3 pit at a spacing of 3m x 3m are prepared in advance to allow weathering of soil.
• Planting is done on the onset of monsoon in offshore and during receding of water in the tanks.

Care & Disease Control :

• Fence is necessary for 2 years as Babul is liked by livestock’s and wild animals.
• Soil working and weedings once in a year.
• Plantation should be weed free with water conservation measures for proper growth (trenching based on the slope).                                                                                         

Recommended Harvest :

• 10 to 12 years for fuel wood purpose

Yield :

• 150-200 tons/ha *

*Depends on the site factors

Major uses :

• Best suitable wood for cart-making and agriculture implements
• The wood is an excellent fuel wood and biomass power plant.
• The leaves are an excellent fodder and rich in crude protein.
• The tree yields Gum Arabic which is used for ink paints, calico paintings and dying.

Market details :

• Approximately Rs.3600 to Rs.4000/ton *

* Subjected to Change according to market demands