It is reported that Casuarina had come from Indonesia and Malaysia. It can grow via seeds or through clonal propagation. The biggest use of Casuarina has been as wind brake along the coastline (on the sea shore) to protect the coastal villages from strong wind and salt. However, there are many other uses of Casuarina as reported. While main stem of it is sold as Poles or Pulpwood to different industries, the branches are used as firewood. The wood that burns with very high heat is believed as the best firewood in the world. It makes a good charcoal. In china, the wood is used for firing brick kilns. As Poles and Pulpwood also, the Casuarina clones, as introduced by Andhra Paper Limited in coastal Andhra, on an average yields around 60 MT per acre (subject to the following of prescribed cultivation practice), that is considerably high among the pulpwood species. It grows best in loose sandy soil. However, it grows in even red soil, alkaline or acidic soil. It is draught resistant at later stage of growth as well. However, it cannot tolerate water logging, and therefore, while going for Casuarina, the drainage condition of the site must be kept in mind.
However, at a juvenile stage it cannot tolerate water logging, and therefore, while going for Casuarina, the drainage condition of the site must be kept in mind.
No, Casuarina can grow in all types of soils (subject to following of proper practices at the plantation)
The Average yield from Casuarina clones- 60-70 MT (subject to following of proper practices at the plantation)
The period of harvest is 4 years after the planting.
The required spacing for Casuarina is 3 mtr x 1 mtr. 3 mtr between rows and 1 mtr between plants.
Recommended plants per ac.-1600 no.
Some reports say that species like Casuarina junghuhniana does carry the capability of coppice, but Casuarina equisetifolia does not coppice at all. Moreover, even coppice in any Casuarina species grows very poor and is not at all economically beneficial for the farmers.
Quality Clonal saplings and field technical advices & recommendation
1. Quality clonal saplings of Casuarina,
2. Technical advices on best planting practices
Casuarina is nitrogen fixer and can grow on most adverse soil conditions. Thus, intercropping with Casuarina always benefits the other crop. While growing only Casuarina clones following recommended practice may lead to 60 - 70 MT per acre of Casuarina wood after 3.5 years (of planting), the intercropping would certainly reduce the yield of wood per acre from Casuarina as other crop would also take place. However, farmer would get financial return from the field without waiting for 3.5 years. Thus, both are beneficial. The decision of intercropping is farmers'.
Tobacco, Cotton, Vegetables, Chillis, Ground nut, and water melon are the recommended. Net says various researches on Bhindi, Sesame (Til), Ground nut and Watermelon as successful intercrops with Casuarina (based on different soil types)
Andhra Paper Limited Clonal Production Centers (Rajahmundry, Mulagapudi & Theeda (Narisipatnam) Devipurum (Anakapalli) and Zarugumalli (Ongole)
YES. Casuarina clonal plantations requires irrigation in the first year when the plants are young. Later its root system becomes stronger and it may withstand less water availability. More importantly, the soil must be free of water logging. In case of no facility of irrigation even in the first year also, planting has to be done during first monsoon itself.
Below is the example calculation of how a farmer's credits are calculated based on below components. You can calculate the credits by entering the values accroding to components.
Casuarina | Alternate Crop 1 | Alternate Crop 2 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Sl. | Component | Expenses | Expenses | Expenses |
1 | Total acrage | |||
2 | Total cost of plant (in Rs) | |||
3 | Fertilizer in 4 years (in Rs) | |||
4 | Pesticides in 4 years (in Rs) | |||
5 | Labour | |||
a | Planting (in Rs) | |||
b | Total Maintenance (in Rs) | |||
6 | Harvesting cycle (in years) | |||
Total expenditure (in Rs) | ||||
Sale rate per Ton (in Rs) | ||||
Total yield (MT) (in Rs) | ||||
Total revenue (in Rs) | ||||
Net profit (in Rs) | ||||
Net profit per year (in Rs) | ||||
Profit/ acre/ year (in Rs) |
Casuarina is a Nitrogen fixing species like subabul that increases the fertility of the soil. Thus, it is often a preferred species for cultivation with other crops. Several studies have been carried to find out the best combinations of intercropping with Casuarina. It is found out that, sesame (til), bhindi, ground nut, tobacco and tomato are a few crops that grow well with Casuarina without causing mutual competition to each other.
Leucaenaleucocephala, common name: Subabul belongs to family LeguminosaeThe species is native to Central America. There are several verities of the species. K-8, K-28, K - 636 belongs to giant type, which are also called Hawaiin giants.
The species grows successfully in a wide range of environmental conditions but vigorous growth is seen in following edapho-climatic conditions-
It grows in well drained soils and growth is poor in acidic soil i.e. below pH 5. The growth is best in soil with pH value of 6 to 7.7. Suitable soil for Subabul plantation is loamy soil, clay loam and sandy loam.
The species tolerates high temperature of tropics. Heavy frost kills the plants. It is light demander and grow slowly under the shade.
The species grows best where rainfall is in between 1000 to 3000mm. It however tolerates dry season for 8-10 months but productivity is reduced.
All parts of the tree are useful. Foliage are good fodder for cattle, though due to mimosine, which form 3-5% of the dry matter, there is a fear of ill effects on the health of cattle. However up to 10-15% of the diet of cattle can be of Leucaena fodder without ill effect. The wood is good for small furniture as pole and plywood core. Unripe pod is eaten by goat. It is a good fuel with calorific value of 4650 K/ cal per kg when harvested from plantation of 2 to 5-year age and it increases with the increase in age. As pulp wood Subabul is one of the best suitable amongst tropical hard wood. The pulp yield is as high as 50-52%.
Normally farmers practice direct seed sowing method for raising Subabul plantation. Seeds come out from pods which grows in cluster. Per kg seeds contain approx. 20000 to 25000 seeds at 6% moisture.
As the seed coat are hard, they need pretreatment before sowing.
Seeds are soaked in hot water (80 degree centigrade) for two to three minutes or in cold water for 2-3 days. Germination occurs within 7 days with 70-80% germination.
After clearing bushes, shrubs etc. Land is ploughed with MB plough followed by cultivator so that soil becomes pulverized.
Normally spacing is followed 1m. X 1m. or 1.5m X 1.0 m for pulp wood production
if the site is rain fed then planting is done in monsoon season, however in irrigated sites planting can be done round the year except extreme summer (April-June)
Most of the farmers adopt direct seed sowing. Normally 2-3 seeds are sown at one place and after germination thinning is done.
Only few farmers plant stump or seedlings raised in trays/ polythene bags.
Weeds are major cause of failure or slow establishment. Regular weeding till plants reach to one or two-meter-tall gives best results. Weeding with soil working round the plants to radius of 0.3 m. should be done thrice in first year and in subsequent years. If the planting is at wide spacing like 3.0m X 1.0 m ploughing can be done in between rows. Such operations gives best result. Pruning of side branches can also be done but foliage must be maintained 1/3rd of total height. Fertilizer application should be done during first year at the time of weeding and hoeing especially phosphatic/ potash fertilizer is applied. In case of any nutrient deficiency is found as per soil test report the deficient nutrient should be applied in consultation with technical field staff. Subabul being a leguminous crop fixes atmospheric nitrogen through its root nodules.
Regular irrigation of plantation accelerate the growth. If sufficient water source is available plantation should be irrigated at interval of 15 days.
As the Subabul leaves are highly edible once the cattle/ goat taste it they get accustomed to the fodder and cause extensive damage to plants. Plantation should be well protected from grazing by cattle.
Weeds are a major threat to growth at initial stage. Area should be cleared of this growth.
Plantation should be harvested after cessation of rains and before commencement of next monsoon. In south west monsoon area harvesting can be done between Oct- June and in North- east monsoon areas between Feb- Sep. In this period the growing season is almost complete the coppice will then have benefited to by the next monsoon.
The trees must be felled in such that the stump left is 3" - 6" high. The stump should be cut clean without leaving loose bark and cavities to avoid stagnation of water. For felling and billeting the trees use of saw will reduce waste.
Fertilizer | Age of trees (months) |
Quantity of fertilizer (kg per acre) |
---|---|---|
Water-soluble mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP) |
1 | 5 |
6 | 8 | |
12 | 10 | |
18 | 12 | |
24 | 18 |
The prescribed quantity of fertilizer should be dissolved in 200 litres of water and applied 100 ml to each plant. This quantity is sufficient for an acre having approximately 2000 trees. The liquid fertilizer may be applied in a small hole made near the plant after watering the plants. Any fertigation beyond second year may not be effective because there will be severe competition for light and space among this trees.
On completion of Six month : Survival/ height/ collar girth
On completion of one year : Survival/ height/ GBH
On completion of Two year : Height/ GBH
On completion of Three years : Height/GBH
The working culture of APL has positive impacts on local community and livelihood. The Company are generating local employment and giving opportunity to local farmers by engaging & providing the better yield crop cultivation practices and technical guidance to FMUs i.e. pulpwood plantation species Casuarina Clone & other intercropping procedure.
As far as possible farmers should opt inter cropping with local conventional crop under various Agro-forestry model. During first year inter cropping should be done with small Height crop like black gram, green gram, chilli, Ground nut, tobacco, watermelon etc.
To protect the plantation from grazing or animal trampling it is required to make "Cattle Proof Trench (CPT)" around the plantation or temporary fencing can be done.
During summer there should not be dry grasses in plantation. Keep such area clean from such fire hazardous. If the area is prone to fire make fire line at certain interval.
You can contact our staff to meet us at this location or to have a meeting in your location to understand about Casuarina clonal farming and nursery distribution near to your planting location.
Meeting Date & Time | District | Mandal | Village | Company Staff | Contact |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
25-Jul-2022 10:00 AM | East Godavari | Gollaprolu | Kodavalli | Srikanth Poosala | 8498097632 |
25-Jul-2022 10:00 AM | West Godavari | Pedavegi | Vegivada | Krishna Ravada | 8498097662 |
25-Jul-2022 11:00 AM | West Godavari | Narasapuram | Seetharamapuram | Ravi Teja | 9866494088 |
25-Jul-2022 02:00 PM | East Godavari | Prathipadu | Thaduvai | Srikanth Poosala | 8498097632 |
26-Jul-2022 11:00 AM | East Godavari | Jaggampeta | Irripaka | Srikanth Poosala | 8498097632 |
26-Jul-2022 04:00 PM | East Godavari | Allavaram | Mogallamuru | Durga Nadigatla | 8498097652 |
27-Jul-2022 08:00 AM | East Godavari | Maredumilli | Pamulamamidi | Ramakrishna | 8498097983 |
27-Jul-2022 04:00 PM | East Godavari | Gangavaram | Nellipudi | Ramakrishna | 8498097983 |
28-Jul-2022 10:00 AM | East Godavari | Addateegala | D Bhimavaram | Ramakrishna | 8498097983 |
28-Jul-2022 10:30 AM | East Godavari | Sankhavaram | Sankhavaram | A Kalyan | 9493202991 |
28-Jul-2022 11:00 AM | East Godavari | Addateegala | Addateegala | NSMV Sastry | 8498097639 |
28-Jul-2022 04:00 PM | East Godavari | Addateegala | Ravulapalem | Ramakrishna | 8498097983 |
29-Jul-2022 08:00 AM | West Godavari | Mogalthuru | Perupalem | Gangadhar B | 8498097982 |
29-Jul-2022 11:00 AM | West Godavari | Narasapuram | Thurputallu | Ravi Teja | 9866494088 |
29-Jul-2022 12:30 PM | East Godavari | Devipatnam | Peda Bheempalle | NSMV Sastry | 8498097639 |
30-Jul-2022 11:30 AM | West Godavari | Gopalpuram | Gopalpuram | Ravi Teja | 9866494088 |
30-Jul-2022 04:00 PM | West Godavari | Jeelugumilli | Kamayyakunta | Venkatesh K | 9908203005 |