Casurina cultivation help required

[dvenkat77]

Hi,

I am planning to go for casurina (farmforest) cultivation in 30 ha land in tamilnadu( got good water resource). I will be pleased if i get some information on this.

1) How should i plant ( distnace between the plants)
2) which type of plant is profitable, people are saying indonesia hybrid plant is very profitable.
3) Where can i get the plants in huge quantity
4) what is the over all growth per tree after 4 years.
5) what will be the profit of 1 acre after 4 years.
6) what is the cost of casurina per ton
7) what is the approximate weight of one tree after 4 years.
8) Is there any disadvantage of going this plant.
9) any legal issues.
10) Over all comment on this project.

Waiting for your valuableinformation.

Thanks!
Venki.

[jayanivas123]

Originally Posted by dvenkat77

Hi,

I am planning to go for casurina (farmforest) cultivation in 30 ha land in tamilnadu( got good water resource). I will be pleased if i get some information on this.

1) How should i plant ( distnace between the plants)
2) which type of plant is profitable, people are saying indonesia hybrid plant is very profitable.
3) Where can i get the plants in huge quantity
4) what is the over all growth per tree after 4 years.
5) what will be the profit of 1 acre after 4 years.
6) what is the cost of casurina per ton
7) what is the approximate weight of one tree after 4 years.
8) Is there any disadvantage of going this plant.
9) any legal issues.
10) Over all comment on this project.

Waiting for your valuableinformation.

Thanks!
Venki.

good day to you


i can assist you

you can get your land planted under casurina.

its very cheap to invest and after 3.5 years good price for you

1acre = 5500 plants

yield 40-60 tonnes

1ton = 1600 to 1800 now

can mail me

[kirti s]

Dear Sir

Temperature:
C. equisetifolia is a cold-sensitive species and is intolerant to frost Casuarina fares poorly outside of mild temperatures ranging from 22.1 to 26.9°C.

Hydrology:
Although it is a shoreline and coastal tree that is very tolerant to salt spray, Australian pine fares poorly in sites prone to prolonged inundation of standing water.

Fire Tolerance:
Young trees less than 8 cm trunk diameter may resprout following exposure to fire, but larger trees are usually killed outright.

Cultivation
Seeds have been successfully stored for 24 months at ca -7°C to 2°C with moisture content of 6–16% . Seedling density should be about 21–32/1000 sq cm. Mulching is not required. Normally seedlings are raised in nurseries to outplant taking advantage of the rainy season, 4–18 months after sowing. Irrigation may be needed during dry periods over the first three years. In new areas, seeds have to be inoculated. They should also be treated to repel ants. Cuttings strike root readily. Trees are usually spaced 2–4 m apart.

Harvesting
Although other Casuarinas coppice readily, this one does not. Casuarina plantations are worked under a clear-felling system, with a rotation of 7–35 years. Some estimates showed a long rotation (33 years) gave greatest volume, but a shorter rotation (15 years) is preferred. In Madras State, the plantations are worked with a short rotation of 7–15 years (usually 10 years),

Yields and Economics
With plants spaced 2 m apart, on a 7–10-year rotation, the trees may yield 75–200 MT wood/ha, i.e. 10–20 MT/ha/yr.

Regards

Kirti

[pvel666633]

Dear friend

Normally casuarina is planted with a spacing of 3 feet by 3 feet. But irrigation will become a big issue. In order to resolve this issue pl. plan to have row spacing at 7 feet and plant spacing at 1.5 to 2 feet. Have two rows by side and drip irrigate the two rows. the left out7 feet area between the row can be used for vehicle movement.

i can supply you any number of sapling at cost of Rs1/- per sapling

pl contact me

[vishnusankar]

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

[dvenkat77]

Hi,

Thanks to every one for your valuable feeback and suggestion. Mainly thanks to Vishnu for posting the report in details.

Please gothrough the following link and please post your feedback on the same.

The Hindu : Sci Tech / Agriculture : New casuarina variety: money does grow on this tree

In this article it is showing 13 lacks per hectare in 4 years, Is it possible? Is this the Hybrid seed or do we have any thing more than that liek super hybird seed etc.

Waiting for your feedback.

Thanks!
Venki.

[vishnusankar]

Hi Venki

Returns shown in the link is highly exaggerated.

For a realistic yield analysis please contact the Dean, Forest College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Mettupalayam- 641 301, Tamil Nadu, email: deanformtp@tnau.ac.in, phone: 04254 - 222010

According to their cultivation trials Casuarina Jhunghuniana can be harvested in about three years (that is 36 month period) and have recorded a yield of 125 – 150 tonnes per hectare, according to Dr. K.T. Parthiban, Associate Professor of the Institute..

Even if you are able to harvest 200 Tons / Hect, the total Gross income will be only Rs.6.00 Lakhs at the nominal rate of Rs.3000 per Ton.

Normally for publicity purposes, yields are estimated taking into account the growth of a single robust specimen only. You will be convinced if you visit any Jhunghuniana farm in your area personally, and find out for yourself the high percentage of genetic variation in the supplied lot (you will not find uniformity) and assess the actual yield and the price the farmer gets practically.

If you are still not satisfied with my arguments, please contact Dr.Kumaravel, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Dept. of Forests, Tamilnadu Ph. 044-24323343 OR Dr.Jain Allaudin, DCF,Dept of Forests Tamilnadu Ph. 044-22750297 since both of them have done extensive research on this subject.

Thank u,
Vishnu

[kayapakkam]

I have planted about 28 months ago Casurina Junghhuniana in about 12 acres in my farm at Villanganoor. I have visited Mettupalayam Forest Research Station about one year ago.
I believe the informations provided by Mr. Vishnushankar is closer to practical reality. As to Uniformity, there is no problem. But growth figures projected by private sapling sellers are far from truth. Howeve, care to be taken for this variety is much higher than the common variety. My farm is located in Madhuranthakam taluk of Tamil Nadu and is about 100 kms from Chennai. We have followed the spacing on 5 by 5 feet. If any one is keen to have a look at the plantation you are free to get in tocuh with me.

best regards
p.s. nathan

[kirti s]

Dear Sir

Compared to some of the other casuarinas, C. equisetifolia is relatively short-lived, surviving only 40-50 years. Its growth is rapid during the first 7 years (1.5-2.5 m/yr), then gradually declines. In general, the volume yield reaches a maximum at age 15-20 years (7-10 m3 /ha yr -1). The yield could probably be greatly increased by using selected clones and applying proper management practices, including irrigation and inoculation with effective Frankia strains. C. equisetifolia plantations are generally managed on a rotation of 7-15 years.

C. equisetifolia is not prone to any serious pest and diseases, except when grown in unfavorable conditions. Pests that attack the tree include crickets and grasshoppers (Chondracis rosea, Schistocera gregaria), defoliators (Lymantria xylina), stem borers (Apate momachus) and sap feeders (Icerya spp.). The major root diseases are caused by, Pseudomonas solanacearum, Trichosporium vesiculorum and Rhizoctonia spp.

Regards

Kirti

[aditijai]

Hi,

Thanks to everyone for the valuble input on the Casuarina Jhunghuniana cultivation. I'm planning for Casuarina Jhunghuniana farming and my land is located in Thanjavur. Good water availability and the soil is fertile and sandy nature. I want to know about intercropping with Casuarina Jhunghuniana cultivation. What kind of crop can go well and at what stage I can start the intercrop. We use to grow banana earlier and had teak and coconut which we cut recently. Was looking at an alternate and came across Casuarina Jhunghuniana cultivation from a field officer for TNPL paper industry. Looking forward for a detail valid suggestion.

Regards,
Jay