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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 :
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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.
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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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