Melia Dubia Plantation Details

Plantation Date :  15 Jan, 2013

Area  :  5 hectares

Total Trees  :  2,000

Cost :  Rs 48 per sapling (including plantation cost)  

* Watering/fertilization cost additional
* Cost per Sapling can vary according to its local availability/applicable rates/transportation cost
* Plantation cost depends on local labor cost

Harvesting Plan :  300 trees annually starting from 6th year onward. Also replacing the harvested one with new plants

Irrigation Type :   flood irrigation

Irrigation Schedule : 

Jan - March ( Winters )  :  Once a month
April - July ( Summers )  :   Weekly basis
Aug - Oct ( Monsoon )   :   No additional watering (rains are enough)
Sept - Dec   :   Every 20 days (depends on occasional rains )

Fertilization :  Every six month

Active Growth Period :  April to October  [ In winters, it shades its leaves ]

Plantation Layout

Important considerations while deciding the gaps/plantation layout

• In order to grow, plants need ample of space for sunlight (less competition)
• Expected time period for harvesting. Longer the harvesting period, greater spacing is required to be maintained for bigger tree (large canopy)
• Type of wind blow pattern and speed

Key Points for above plantation layout

• I have observed that a tree which is having enough open space (10 ft +) at-least in one side can have normal growth as compared to the tree covered by other trees (less then 10 ft gap) from all four sides
• Having four side wide open around the plantation side, I decided to keep less space between trees on the border belt. Putting up border belt increases the quantity of trees
• Border belt also helps in acting as wind barrier as wind can be dangerous once the trees are between 2.5 to 4 years of age due to their lesser strength in proportion to their height. Exposure to high winds can tear apart the tree's trunk from shoulder joints
• In order to avoid the development of weeds in the empty area of the field, I would prefer to cultivate crops like mustard or cereals or even shade friendly organic farming. This will also help in recovering cost of maintaining the trees. Atleast for first 3 years, it is very much possible to cultivate additional crops before entire field is covered by shade of trees.

Post Plantation

• Immediate watering