Fire fodder

Few people know that a baval tree (Acacia Nilotica) whose wood is used for kathi in fire temples, is an evergreen tree. It is a hardy species. It can grow in any type of soil. As we use our community lands, there is no question of selection of soil or land at present. Baval is a tap root species so the roots grow deep in the soil. This enhances growth and development. Baval seeds are hard, coated, 7,500 seeds weigh a kilogram. For our purpose, seeds should be collected from elite trees.
Baval trees can be raised by directly sowing the seeds in the soil. But this type of planting does not give optimum results. We prefer to place the plants in polythene bags. The potted saplings are then planted in pits dug up before the monsoons. Polythene bag plants are available in private nurseries or forest department nurseries. But we prefer plants raised in our own nursery. After six months the plants are placed in pits of 30×30x30 cm and spaced out 4×4 m which results in 625 plants per hectare. Plants should be watered if there is no rain. Casualties should be replaced within 15 days of planting so as to obtain a 100% success rate. While planting, a proportionate amount of farmyard manure will add a boost to the plants. During the monsoon, three weedings and soil turning should be done. Cattle browsing should be prevented. A well grown irrigated plantation in five years will produce about 35 cubic m of kathi wood. At present the market rate for one cubic m of wood is Rs 1,00,000.
PIROSHA M. TAMBOLI
Navsari