Cultivations

 

Agro climatic Requirements :

Climate : Found in areas of dry and hot climate. The trees are found in dry hill areas

 

Temperature : Daily mean temperature ranging from 30 to 40°C

 

Rainfall : Requires around 100mm of rain in each of the two annual monsoons, relative humidity ranging from 32 to 79%.,

 

Altitude : Often rocky terrain at altitudes ranging from 150-900m often on precipitous hill slopes. At lower altitudes, it occurs on all aspects; but in higher hills, it shows a tendency to confine itself to cooler Northern and Eastern aspects.

 

Soil : It grows on rocky soils consisting of quartzite shales, lime stone and laterite. The tree grows well particularly in laterite loam, requires perfect drainage and hence it is found mainly on stony or gravelly soil. Under water logged conditions the trees fail to stand stiff.

 

Planting in the field:  

          Land preparation and fertilizer application The land is ploughed and harrowed repeatedly and soil is brought to a fine tilth. Pits of size 45 cm × 45 cm × 45 cm are dug at a spacing of 4 m × 4 m. The pits are filled with topsoil mixed thoroughly with 10–15 kg FYM (farmyard manure) and 10 g lindane dust to protect the planting stock from soil-borne fungi[2].

 

          Transplanting and optimum spacing The best time for planting the crop in the field is end of May to June, that is, onset of rainy season. Generally, the stump-raised seedlings or stumps obtained from two year old nursery plants are transplanted. A plant population of about 600 per hectare is recommended with a spacing of 4 m × 4 m[2].

 

         Intercropping system No particular intercropping system has so far been studied in this crop; however, herbaceous rhizomatous species may be grown as an intercrop in inter-row spaces[2].

 

        Interculture and maintenance practices About 10–15 kg FYM per plant per year and 150:100:100 g NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) per plant per year are required for at least five years. Fertilizer should be applied in 15–20-cm-deep circular trenches dug around the plant at a distance of 60 cm. Full dose of P and K along with one-third N should be applied at the end of February. The remaining N should be applied in two split doses during June–July and October–November. Application of inorganic fertilizers should always be followed by irrigation. Gap filling is done one month after planting. Weeding is done manually as and when necessary and particularly just before manuring. The soil around the basin is loosened frequently by hoeing[2].

 

         Irrigation practices The plants are irrigated immediately after transplantation. Thereafter, irrigation is done on alternate days up to 15 days. After the seedlings get established, irrigation may be done at an interval of 10–15 days, depending on the weather conditions[2].

 

         Disease and pest control Leaf-eating caterpillars have been found to damage the crop during April–May. These can be controlled by spraying 0.2% Monocrotophos twice at weekly intervals[2].

         

Varieties: In nature, two types of rakta chandan trees are observed—wavy grained and straight. The wavy grained wood is more in demand in trade and is preferred for commercial plantation. No commercially released varieties are available[2].

 

Source :

  1. Teresa Mulliken and Petra Crofton, Review of the Status, Harvest, Trade and Management of Seven Asian CITES-listed Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Species. Review of Seven Asian CITES-listed Medicinal Plant Species.

  2. Agro-technique study carried out by P Division of Horticulture, University of Agricultural Sciences, G K V K Campus, Bangalore – 560 065. and P Dhanvanthari Vana, Department of Forestry, Government of Karnataka, Jnanabharathi Campus, Bangalore University, Bangalore.

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