NEEM

Botanical name : Azadirachta indica A.Juss Family : Meliaceae Distribution Neem is a versatile multipurpose tree native of dry forest areas of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar and Africa. In India it occurs throughout the drier parts including the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, Maharastra, Gujrarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Environmental Requirements Neem is a sturdy tree and can adapt to a-wide range of climatic, edaphic and topographical conditions. Climate Temperature Being a tropical / sub-tropical plant, it is found in areas with annual mean maximum temperature upto32.5 to 42.5Cand minimum temperature of 4 to 21C. Temperatures below 4C and frost are unfavorable. Rainfall Neem comes up well in areas with an average annual rainfall of 450 - 1200 mm. Soil Neem grows well on almost all kinds of soils which are well drained. It grows well in loamy, clayey and black cotton soil. It also thrives better than other species on dry, stony, clayey and shallow soils. It can also come up on soil, where there is

hard calcareous or clay pan just below the soil surface. It does not grow well on sodic soil and grows moderately on alkaline soil. The optimum pH is 6.2 and above and can also grow well at pH 5.0 and helps in increasing the pH through the addition of calcium rich leaf litter. Water logging and poorly drained soils are unsuitable for Neem. Phenology Neem is an evergreen tree, but in dry locations, it sheds its leaf during February to March leaves appear during March to April. Flowering varies with climate of the locality. Flower from January to March. Fruit ripen from June to August. Silvicultural Characters Light - Neem is a light demander but tolerates fairly heavy shade during the early ye; Frost - It is frost tender species and cannot withstand excessive cold, especially in se and sapling stages. Drought - Well extensive root system makes neem drought hardy Waterlogging - Neem cannot withstand waterlogging Fire - Fire tender species Coppice - It can coppice well Root suckers - Produces root suckers Pollarding - It can withstand pollarding Silviculture Natural regeneration - Though self sown seeds and through seeds from birds dropi neem reproduce naturally. It establishes well in thorny bushes, along field bunds, wire fence "telegraph wires. It requires protection from grazing during early stages. Natural regene from coppice and root suckers' is also common. Artificial Regeneration Neem seeds are collected from June to August. Fresh seeds collected should be usi sowing. Fruits on collection should be depulped and shade dried and then treated with fungi like Agrason or Cerason and than used for sowing. Artificial regeneration could be ach though direct sowing or out planting nursery raised seedling.