Casuarina Jhunghuniana cultivation
Hi Venki
It is better u go for the hybrid variety Casuarina Jhunghuniana clones instead of the local Casuarina Equestifolia seedlings.
Here is a list of some useful information about Casuarina Jhunghuniana:
Casuarina junghuhniana is a fast growing and highly drought-tolerant species, and it is mainly propagated by vegetative means.
A LOW-cost micro-propagation technique for mass multiplication of male sterile hybrid Casuriana junghuhniana variety has been successfully developed by The Forest Department of Tamilnadu at it's research facility / nursery at Neyveli. Training and dissemination of information are free of cost.
Planting distance: Spacing 4x3 feet. About 3,600 cloned seedlings are required for planting in one acre.
You can get plants from: Tamilnadu Forest Dept, Seshasayee paper board, Erode and TNPL, Pugalur, karur.
The plant attains maturity in 36 -42 months. It has nitrogen fixing root nodules and hence, dependability on nitrogen supplement is less.
The current procurement price by the TNPL, Karur and Seshasayee paper board, Erode is about Rs.2,000 per tonne or the market price prevailing at the time of harvesting the produce (cutting and transport charges will be borne by the company). Good quality poles fetches upto Rs.3500 / ton at Bangalore and Bombay market.
Credit facilities :
The paper companies also arranges credit facilities through nationalised banks at Rs.20,000 per acre and harvests the wood after 36 months
Approximate weight of one tree after 3.5 years: 18 - 20 kgs
Cost of cultivation in a acre for 3.5 years:
Cost of plants 3600 x Rs.3.00 Rs. 10800
Land preparation, irrigation
weeding and others approx. Rs. 39200
TOTAL Rs. 50000
Yield and income:65 Tons / Acre
@ Rs 2000 Rs.130000
Net Profit in 3. 5years /Acre Rs. 80000
A good profitable crop. Marketing is easier. Unlike Equestifolia, ratoon crop is possible in Jhunghuniana. Enhances the fertility of the degraded soils by fixing "N' and by increasing the OC content appreciably. Adaptable to any soil type. Growth is stunted in heavy clay and sodic soils. Moisture loss of the felled tree is very high, so market it immediately.
For more specific information send private message /mail.
vishnusankar
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