Hello Sir
The crop can be raised through seeds by raising nursery in sunken and raised beds are used to raise seedlings. Both of them perform equally well under different climatic conditions.
Seed beds are prepared with sand and red earth in the ratio 3:1.
Around 2.5 Kg. seed is spread uniformly over the bed, covered with straw, which should be removed when the leaves start appearing on the seedlings.
When seedling have reached 4 to 6 leaf stage they are transplanted to poly bags along with a seed of “Red gram” (Cajanus cajan), the primary host for better growth of sandal. Seedlings are carefully removed from beds with all roots immediately after transplantation.
Watering is to be done once a day, but excess moisture is to be avoided.
Host plants are pruned frequently, so that they do not over grow sandal and hamper its growth.
Polybags should contain soil mixture of ratio 2:1:1 (Sand: Red earth: Farmyard manure). It as been found that poly bags of 30 X 14 cm size are the best.
Plantable seedlings of about 30cm height can be raised in 6-8 months’ time. A well-branched seedling with a brown stem is ideal for planting in the field.
Planting 6-8 months ready plants directly will reduce the total crop duration, minimizes the risk of raising nursery and assured quality planting material are added advantages.
Digging pit size of 2’X2’X2’ filled with 1:2 ratio of red earth and farmyard manure watering for settling down the mixture.
Placing the healthy seedling of sandal in the center by digging the small pit ensured that all the root systems are placed properly in the pit so that the tender roots will establish quickly.
Planting the host plant in the pit 6” apart from the sandal plant.
SPACING & PLANT POPULATION:
Pits should be dugged with a spacing of 12’X12’ = 303 plants per one Acre.
This is optimum for better plant population and yield. Plant population of at least 300 plants per Acre to be maintained.
8.0 tones of farmyard manure will be sufficient per one acre of sandal crop per year, chemical fertilizers required initially depending on soil fertility status.
Regular weeding and inter cultivation to be done to prevent soil moisture and nutrient loss. Inter crops are preferred for additional income and best land utilization and soil management.
It is also advisable to go for a inter crop which ensures inter cultivation and additional income to the farmer. Intercrops like Coleus forskolii, Banaba leaves and other short duration crops preferred. Short duration crops have shallow root system, that will not going to compete for water and nutrients with main crop.
Sandal is a rain fed crop. Young plants require watering in summer months at 15-20 days interval till they are fully established.
Plants should be protected from physical damage, controlling white ants which is major problem in red soils, spray of 2% chloropyriphos on white ant attacked portion of shoot and near around the tree trunk will check the white ant effect.
Sandal tree yields two kinds of wood sapwood and heart wood and yield from inter crops.