Introduction
| Species | Casuraina equisetifolia | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family | Casuarinaceae | ||||||||||
| Local Name |
| ||||||||||
| Trade Name | Beef wood |
 |
| Image courtesy : Wikipedia |
Origin
Casuarina is an exotic to mainland India. It was introduced in Karwar District in 1668.It occurs naturally in the Andaman’s, Bangladesh and Burma coast. Natural regeneration of the species is rarely seen and it has to be raised by planting only.
The tree attains height up to 40 m with diameter of 60 cm (180 cm girth) often, buttressed at the base. It is short lived; its natural span of life seldom exceeds 50 years. In less favorable localities, it turns misshapen and hollow beyond 25 years of age. The tree flowers generally twice a year during February–April and September– October. Fruits (Cones) appear in June and December. Variations in flowering and fruiting may occur with localities.
Rainfall: It grows well in both Southwest and North East monsoons. In peninsular India, the rainfall
is in between 900 to 3800 mm. Growth is poor in low rainfall areas.
Soil: Casuarina grows best in loose, fine coastal sands.It can grow well under inland conditions of well drained sandy soils. It tolerates lateritic and red soils and also saline, alkaline and acidic conditions. The trees have nitrogen fixing root nodules and hence dependability on nitrogen supplement is less.
Casuarina is a good pulpwood species. Farmers are cultivating mostly this species for pulpwood. Yield and strength properties of Casuarina pulp are reported satisfactory for wrapping paper and duplex paper. It makes good pulp by use of neutral sulfite semi chemical process. The material with bark is used for pulping.
Fuel wood:
Casuarina is considered to be the best firewood in the world, burns even when green. Its calorific value is 4950 Cal/Kg and hence, it can be a source of bioenergy.
Timber:
The sapwood is pale brown, heartwood dark reddish brown. Timber is strong and heavy (average 850 kg/m3). It is liable to crack and split, not easy to saw and season. It is used as poles, scaffolding, transmission lines and
rafters.
Medicinal:
Bark of Casuarina is a tonic and astringent useful in dysentery and diarrhea. Decoction of leaves and twigs is used in colic and powdered seed in made into a paste and applied as balm for headaches. Bark contains 6-18% tannin, which is also used for dyeing wool and silk fabrics and for toughening fishermen nets. It also yields a resin. Needles of Casuarina have been used for preparing activated carbon by the zinc chloride method.
Avenue:
Casuarina forms a good avenue tree and most suitable for landscaping sea beaches. It forms a good hedge plant and can be shaped to desired form.
Windbreak:
Casuarina with deep taproot can withstand cyclonic storms than any other species and is very useful as a windbreak and for sand dune stabilization.
Soil Improvement:
Casuarina develops nitrogen fixing nodules of Frankia species on the roots. They fix considerable quantities of nitrogen in the soil and help to improve the soil nutrient status.
For contract farming, the following addressee can be contacted;
1) The Head (Environment), Sheshasayee Paper Board, Erode. Mobile: 9443340236.
2) The Manager (Plantations), Tamil Nadu Newsprints and Papers Ltd, Mobile: 9442591411.
For further information; please contact
The Dean,
Forest College and Research Institute,
Tamil Nadu Agricultural university,
Mettupalayam, Tamil Nadu– 641 301.
Ph: 04254 – 22010, 222398, 227418.
Mobile: 09443505844.
Email: deanformtp@tnau.ac.in
Website: tnau.ac.in
Info courtesy : TNAU
Description
Casuarina is a large fast growing evergreen tree with graceful appearance, resembles a feathery conifer. Bole is long and cylindrical. In rare cases and in the interiors, there are instances of developing thick branches. In it is natural state it is gregarious, forming pure crops with little or no under growth except grass and sporadic shrubs.The tree attains height up to 40 m with diameter of 60 cm (180 cm girth) often, buttressed at the base. It is short lived; its natural span of life seldom exceeds 50 years. In less favorable localities, it turns misshapen and hollow beyond 25 years of age. The tree flowers generally twice a year during February–April and September– October. Fruits (Cones) appear in June and December. Variations in flowering and fruiting may occur with localities.
Environmental Requirements
Temperature: Along the coastal regions, where Casuarina thrives, the temperature is extreme sometimes extending to 470C. Under inland conditions it tolerated extreme temperatures, but its growth is poor.Rainfall: It grows well in both Southwest and North East monsoons. In peninsular India, the rainfall
is in between 900 to 3800 mm. Growth is poor in low rainfall areas.
Soil: Casuarina grows best in loose, fine coastal sands.It can grow well under inland conditions of well drained sandy soils. It tolerates lateritic and red soils and also saline, alkaline and acidic conditions. The trees have nitrogen fixing root nodules and hence dependability on nitrogen supplement is less.
Silvicultural Requirement
Casuarina is a fast growing, light demanding species. It is very sensitive to excess soil moisture, fire and frost. It does not tolerate water logging for long. It does not tolerate drought up to sapling stage, later with deep rooting, it can withstand drought. It tolerates low temperature and shade. As a general rule it does not coppice but can with stand pollarding. Rare instances of natural regeneration and root suckers are noticed. It improves soil fertility by virtue of its vigorous root nodulation with nitrifying bacteria.Yield
Every part of the tree is useful, including needles as fuel. The best yield of about 125 to 150 tons per hectare is possible with in three years at an espacement of 4 X 4 feet or 5 X 5 feet. It is also possible to increase the yield through quality planting material coupled with irrigation and fertilization.Intercropping
Agricultural crops can be raised in the first year with Casuarina especially groundnut and melons in sandy soils, sesame in red soils and pulses in heavy soils.Utility
Pulp wood:Casuarina is a good pulpwood species. Farmers are cultivating mostly this species for pulpwood. Yield and strength properties of Casuarina pulp are reported satisfactory for wrapping paper and duplex paper. It makes good pulp by use of neutral sulfite semi chemical process. The material with bark is used for pulping.
Fuel wood:
Casuarina is considered to be the best firewood in the world, burns even when green. Its calorific value is 4950 Cal/Kg and hence, it can be a source of bioenergy.
Timber:
The sapwood is pale brown, heartwood dark reddish brown. Timber is strong and heavy (average 850 kg/m3). It is liable to crack and split, not easy to saw and season. It is used as poles, scaffolding, transmission lines and
rafters.
Medicinal:
Bark of Casuarina is a tonic and astringent useful in dysentery and diarrhea. Decoction of leaves and twigs is used in colic and powdered seed in made into a paste and applied as balm for headaches. Bark contains 6-18% tannin, which is also used for dyeing wool and silk fabrics and for toughening fishermen nets. It also yields a resin. Needles of Casuarina have been used for preparing activated carbon by the zinc chloride method.
Avenue:
Casuarina forms a good avenue tree and most suitable for landscaping sea beaches. It forms a good hedge plant and can be shaped to desired form.
Windbreak:
Casuarina with deep taproot can withstand cyclonic storms than any other species and is very useful as a windbreak and for sand dune stabilization.
Soil Improvement:
Casuarina develops nitrogen fixing nodules of Frankia species on the roots. They fix considerable quantities of nitrogen in the soil and help to improve the soil nutrient status.
For contract farming, the following addressee can be contacted;
1) The Head (Environment), Sheshasayee Paper Board, Erode. Mobile: 9443340236.
2) The Manager (Plantations), Tamil Nadu Newsprints and Papers Ltd, Mobile: 9442591411.
For further information; please contact
The Dean,
Forest College and Research Institute,
Tamil Nadu Agricultural university,
Mettupalayam, Tamil Nadu– 641 301.
Ph: 04254 – 22010, 222398, 227418.
Mobile: 09443505844.
Email: deanformtp@tnau.ac.in
Website: tnau.ac.in
Info courtesy : TNAU
