Casuarina junghuhniana

Dear Friends,

I hope my various posts in the following website thread regarding the cultivation of Casuarina Junghuhniana (Tamil : Indonesian Savukku) makes an interesting reading.

http://www.agricultureinformation.com/forums/questions-answers/18528-casurina-cultivation-help-required.html

They are listed herebelow: (16.03.2008)

It is better u go for the hybrid variety Casuarina Junghuhniana clones instead of the local Casuarina Equestifolia seedlings. Here is a list of some useful information about Casuarina :

Casuarina junghuhniana (Tamil : Indonesian Savukku) 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 cost of cultivation 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, coppice (ratoon crop ) is possible in Junghuhniana. Enhances the fertility of the degraded soils by fixing "N' and by increasing the O.C 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 contact leave your message here.

Thanking You,
Vishnu Sankar
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Please go thro the link given here:
The Hindu : Sci Tech / Agriculture : New casuarina variety: money does grow on this tree
28.03.2008

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 junghuhniana 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 Junghuhniana (Tamil : Indonesian Savukku) 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 Sankar
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A reputed member of the website 'Agriculture information .com' kayapakkam

(P.S.Nathan)replied to the above post on 29.03.2008 as under:I have planted about 28 months ago Casurina Junghhuniana (Tamil : Indonesian Savukku) 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
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My posts regarding intercrops inside casuarina Junghuhniana(Tamil : Indonesian Savukku):
13.07.2008
Intercrops with Casuarina
Dear Jay, Since Casurina varieties are normally planted in a narrow spacing of 2.5' x 3.5' or in some cases with even lower spacings of 2' x 3', please avoid long term / annaul crops for intercropping. Only short duration crops like minor / major millets, Maize, Sun Flower and some Vegetables are ideal for intercropping. AVOID INTERCROPS ONCE THE CASUARINA ATTAINS THE AGE OF 6 MONTHS.
Regards,
Vishnu Sankar
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18.07.2008
Effect of spacing in Casurina plantation
Dear Friend, Spacing determines the girth of the planted casuarina. In closely planted fields, girth / Wt of individual tree obtained will be less but the overall tonnage on fourth year may be more or less equal to that of casuarina planted with wide spacings. But after 4th year variation between the two will be drastic.
Vishnu Sankar
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A senior member of the same website 'Sampada Farms Raghu Ram' aobserved to my posts as under:
Casurina with coppce growth.
For Superior Casuarina junghuhniana plants developed with the Unieversity technology are available. Special variety brought from INDONESIA, first time in INDIA Can tolerate water stress .In 4 years upto 50 - 70 tons in rainfed irrigation and with drip irrigation 100 tons yield
You can harvest three times for every four years. This tree Casuarina junghuhniana is with coppice growth. You can personally see and visit the farms. Talk to the farmers. Then u can plant. Good and idle for large scale plantation.
For other information, you can refer Sri Vishnusankar's posting in this thread.
Regards
Raghu Ram
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