Belleric Myrobalan/Thandri kai
Terminalia bellerica
Description
General Information :
- Myrobalan is a large, fast-growing deciduous tree with a large.
- Bark bluish grey in color.
- Leaves are gdrake green globorous.
- Flowers pale greenish yellow with strong offensive smell.
- Fruits are dry fleshy drupe, grey, velvetry ,hard ,thick walled and woody.
Distribution :
- Ballerica is common throughout India, except arid regions.
Habitat : Tropical and Deciduous Forest
Soil : Occurs in loam and alluvial soils.
Soil pH : 6.0-6.5
Altitude :500-1500 m (MSL)
Rainfall :900-3800 mm
Temperature : 17 - 47°c
Terrain : It prefers stream valleys and mountain slopes.
Tree Characteristics :
- It is light demander and sensitive to frost.
Habit : Deciduous Tree
Planting Guidelines
Natural Regeneration :
- Regenerates naturally by seeds and coppice.
Artificial Regeneration :
- Propagated by direct-sowing and Nursery raised seedlings.
Seed collection and Storage :
- The fruits are collected during November- February.
- Fruits are depulped and seed dried under sun before storage.
- Viability of the seed is 12 months.
- Depulped dry seeds 400 to 500/Kg
- The germinative capacities of the seed varies from 55-70%
- Plant percent from 35-60%.
Seed Treatment :
- Cold water soaking for 24 hours.
Nursery Technique :
- Seeds are sown in mother bed during March – April.
- Germination stats in a week and complete in a month.
- Beds are regularly watered and weeded.
- 3-4 months old nursery raised seedlings are fit for planting.
- For road side and avenue planting 16 months old seedlings will do effectively.
Plantation technique :
- 3-4 month old seedlings are planted out on the onset of monsoon.
- Pit size 30 cm3 with spacing of 3 m x 3 m
- For road side avenues – 15 to 16 month old plants are planted in pits of size 60 cm3, spaced 6-8 m apart.
Care & Disease Control :
- Weeding and soil working is necessary for first 2-3 years in plantation.
Recommended Harvest :
Yield :
- Approximately 40–50 kg of dry fruits are obtained per tree per year after it attains six years of age.
Major uses :
- The fruit is well known commercial Myrobalan called berrica myrobalan.
- The fruits contain 21.4% tannin.
- It is used for dyeing cloth and leather.
- The timber is locally used for constructional work, planking, packing cases and side planks of boat.
Market details :
- Approximately rs.3000 to Rs.3500 / ton.