Agroforestry Chapter 8 (Part 4): Ban Oak, Bamboo, Tamarind, Neem and Seed Identification
Agroforestry Notes · Chapter 8 · Part 4
Chapter 8 (Part 4): Ban Oak, Bamboo, Tamarind, Neem and Seed Identification
Quercus leucotrichophora, Dendrocalamus hamiltonii, Tamarindus indica and Azadirachta indica, plus the seed and seedling identification table and a family list for the whole chapter.
1. Ban oak (Quercus leucotrichophora A. Camus)
- Family Fagaceae; moderate to large evergreen tree up to 20 m; old leaves fall after new ones appear, so it is never leafless.
- Western Himalaya, 800–2300 m on southern aspects (200–300 m lower on northern); as low as 600 m in Kangra. Principal species of the ban oak forest.
- Associates: Q. dilatata, Cedrus deodara, Pinus wallichiana; lower down Pinus roxburghii.
- Rainfall 1000–1800 mm; best on cool northern aspects with deep moist shale soils.
- Acorn ripens Dec–Jan, 19–21 months after flowering.
- Moderate light demander, shade tolerant when young, wind-firm, fire susceptible. Slow seedlings: 10 cm in the first season, about 25 cm in four years (root grows more than shoot).
- 400–800 acorns/kg; dried in shade and stored a year; about 5 kg acorns sow 1 ha; fresh seed germinates 60–70%; plant 15–20 cm stock by July.
- Uses: fuelwood and charcoal (CV 4600 kcal/kg; charcoal 16–20%), leaf fodder 20–25 kg per tree per year, and soil and water conservation in hill catchments.
2. Bamboo (Dendrocalamus hamiltonii Nees & Arn.)
- Common name Magar bans; family Poaceae, sub-family Bambusoideae.
- Culms 12–25 m tall, 10–19 cm thick; internodes 30–50 cm.
- NW Himalaya and the North-East; cultivated in HP (Chamba, Mandi, Bilaspur) at 350–1400 m; rainfall 750–5000 mm; sandy loam over boulders.
- Flowers sporadically or gregariously; new culms in Jul–Aug reach full length by Nov–Dec; natural spread by rhizomes.
- Offset planting (culm cut at 1–1.5 m) in Jun–Jul gives about 50% survival; pits 60 cm³ at 6 × 6 or 7 × 7 m; exploitable culms in 4–5 years.
- Single-node cuttings from culms under one year, planted horizontally in March.
- FRI mass production: seedlings in trays, then polybags; proliferated tillers with rhizome as propagules.
- Uses: rafters, posts, ladders, scaffolding, edible shoots, paper pulp.
3. Tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.)
- Names Imli; family Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae; large evergreen tree up to 15 m with a 9–12 m crown; lives 200 years or more.
- Varieties: East Indian (long pods, 6–12 seeds) and West Indian (short pods, 1–4 seeds).
- Native to tropical Africa, probably brought to India by Arabs; grown everywhere except the Himalaya and the arid west; rainfall 750–1900 mm.
- Non-exacting; tolerates slightly saline and alkaline soil. Strong light demander, frost tender, drought resistant; root suckers and coppice.
- Not fire hardy, yet the best tree for fire lines in Karnataka (dense evergreen shade suppresses grass).
- 1800–2000 seeds/kg; germination about 75% with no pre-treatment.
- Bears from 8–10 years; about 2 quintals of fruit per tree.
- Direct sowing in lines 4–5 m apart, about 20 kg seed/ha: 80% survival vs 60% for transplants and only 42% for stumps. Terminal cuttings root with IBA 1000 ppm.
- An ideal avenue tree.
4. Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.)
- Family Meliaceae; hardy semi-evergreen tree of the drier parts of India, absent above about 500–600 m in the Himalaya.
- Max 40–45 °C, min 0–15 °C; rainfall 450–1125 mm; best on black cotton soils; salt tolerant but not for waterlogged land or deep dry sand.
- Fruits June–August; economic yield from 10–12 years.
- Seed viability only 6–8 weeks (falls fast after 2 weeks); fresh seed up to 86% germination; 3300–4500 seeds/kg; de-pulping helps; germination epigeal.
- Strong light demander, shade tolerant when young, frost and waterlogging sensitive; coppices and produces root suckers.
- Sow in June, drills 15 cm apart, 2.5 cm deep; one-year seedlings are best; winter planting is unsuitable. Air layering with 0.1% IBA or NAA.
- Uses: shade and avenue tree, timber, fuel, neem oil and cake, bio-pesticide (azadirachtin), medicine; recommended for saline-alkali reclamation and shelterbelts.
Exam point: Recalcitrant seed: neem loses viability within weeks, so sow fresh. Compare shisham (12–18 months) and Leucaena (20 years refrigerated).
5. Seed and seedling identification exercise
| Species | Common name | Family | Key seed fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morus alba | Mulberry | Moraceae | 430–460 seeds/g |
| Grewia optiva | Bhiul, Bhimal | Tiliaceae | 12,000–15,000 seeds/kg; 2–4 seeds per drupe |
| Albizia chinensis | Black siris | Leguminosae | Flat ovate greenish-brown seeds 5–7 mm |
| Toona ciliata | Toon | Meliaceae | Capsule opens by 5 valves; seeds winged at both ends |
| Bauhinia variegata | Kachnar | Leguminosae | 10–15 seeds per pod |
| Celtis australis | Nettle tree, Khirk | Ulmaceae | About 4600 seeds/kg |
| Sapindus mukorossi | Soapnut, Ritha | Sapindaceae | Single-seeded drupe; black globose seed |
| Dalbergia sissoo | Shisham | Leguminosae | 18,500–35,000 seeds/kg; pod 1–3 seeded |
6. Families of all Chapter 8 species
| Family | Species |
|---|---|
| Leguminosae: Mimosoideae | Acacia catechu, Leucaena leucocephala, Albizia chinensis |
| Leguminosae: Papilionoideae | Dalbergia sissoo, Robinia pseudoacacia |
| Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae | Tamarindus indica, Bauhinia variegata |
| Salicaceae | Populus deltoides |
| Moraceae | Morus alba |
| Tiliaceae (now Malvaceae) | Grewia optiva |
| Myrtaceae | Eucalyptus tereticornis |
| Verbenaceae (now Lamiaceae) | Tectona grandis |
| Fagaceae | Quercus leucotrichophora |
| Poaceae: Bambusoideae | Dendrocalamus hamiltonii |
| Meliaceae | Azadirachta indica, Toona ciliata |
| Ulmaceae | Celtis australis |
| Sapindaceae | Sapindus mukorossi |
Exam point: Course exams use the older family names given in the e-course (teak in Verbenaceae, Grewia in Tiliaceae). Newer APG books place them in Lamiaceae and Malvaceae; know both.
7. Quick revision box
- Ban oak: Fagaceae, evergreen, 800–2300 m; acorn 19–21 months; 400–800 acorns/kg; fuel and charcoal.
- D. hamiltonii: Magar bans; offsets; 6 × 6 or 7 × 7 m; single-node cuttings; FRI mass production.
- Tamarind: Caesalpinioideae; tropical Africa via Arabs; no pre-treatment; Karnataka fire lines; direct sowing best.
- Neem: Meliaceae; viability 6–8 weeks; one-year seedlings; no winter planting; black cotton soil.
- Toon capsule 5 valves; Celtis Ulmaceae ~4600 seeds/kg; Ritha Sapindaceae.
8. Interactive MCQ Quiz
15 questions. Tap an option to see the answer and explanation, then go to the next question.
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