Last August, we had planted 5000+ Melia Dubia saplings. A year later, most of the saplings have been able to grow into young, sturdy trees with an average height of 10-11 ft (although some of them are as high 15-17 ft). External inputs have been minimal. Biannual manuring has been followed and irrigation given once in 5 days (40L at a time). No chemicals or fertilizers have been used except Humic Acid on the weaker ones.
Following are the pictures of our Melia Dubia plot a year later.
To give you a reference, where we were last year, check out the archives.
Following are the pictures of our Melia Dubia plot a year later.
To give you a reference, where we were last year, check out the archives.
Hello Techie2aggie,
ReplyDeleteA really interesting agri-venture. I read thru the archives and this is really great progress after an year.
My query is regarding the Protection and Conservation of Trees Act that may be applicable in your state. Assuming you would have already thought and worked on these lines, could you please guide me on whether the Act would apply to such farm plantations as yours, mainly these and the Moringa and mango plantations. Did anyone from the relevant govt. dept approach you for a tree census? As I understand, permission is required for chopping off trees even if they maybe grown with a farming intention. Would appreciate if you can let us know your thoughts and experience with this.
Best regards.
Nobody from the forest dept has approached yet. I will try to find out some more info on this and get back to you.
DeleteShall appreciate if you could share info on humid acid, application (in litres) per plant for media Dubia; price of humid acid per litre; place of availability and I case it was internally generated within your farm, what was the process to generate humid acid
ReplyDeleteShall appreciate I'd you share your feedback
Regards
3ml/L was given per plant by ventury system. I bought it for Rs 490/L.
DeleteSrinivasan Krishnan..
DeleteIf you want we(Agribiotech,Karnataka) provide Humic acid,amino acid,seaweed combination product"Humifos" for Rs 80/L.
it works better in all crops..
pls contact 09448726093
Dear Kaustubh,
ReplyDeleteThe efforts you have made so far are simply "laudable". When compared to a regular farmer, practicing farming right from his child hood, you have gained so much of knowledge in very short duration, just by experiencing in first hand and from other's experiences as well. Really... creates me a great feel of amazement!.
Well....after seeing this Melia Dubia picture, one thing comes into my mind...your proof of concept (POC) picture taken at 9 months at your home (http://techie2aggie.blogspot.in/2011/06/melia-dubia-proving-concept.html) seems to be some what bigger when compared to this new one, which is taken at 12 months. I assume you would have noticed that, what could be the reason for that?
Thanks for your sharing and caring!.
Cheers,
Sudharsan.
Sudharsan, Thanks for the kind words. I agree with your observation, but it should be noted that when you have a set of 5000 trees, there will always be more variability due to soil quality etc. We earmarked the more fertile areas for Moringa and Mango. The plot where Melia Dubia is planted is fairly eroded. I expect that the growth will eventually occur, it is just a matter of time. It may take an additional year or so.
DeleteJust a word of caution:
ReplyDeleteHeay windflow may be a threat to grownup trees.
I have seen 2 years old trees were uprooted by strong wind.
I am also into tree farming for the last 3 years.
I have heard this happens in "hybrid or cloned" varieties, where the roots do not go as deep. Please share your experience with the community. What trees are you cultivating?
DeleteIts not like that I had a personal exp where drip irrigated trees tend to hav less root spread/micronutrient def and so on... but if u keep on moving the drip point from the root gradually,,,(i.e fairly out of radius of the canopy) roots start penetrating better with stern support to withstand head winds and girth improves too
Delete!!!! thank you by the way me too techie as well as a tree cultivator!!! regardzz
Somehow, missed this one.. Moving around the lateral can be a challenge when you have a large acreage. We irrigate once in 4-5 days (about 50L at a time). I agree if you over irrigate, roots will not go as deep.
DeleteWhat and where are you cultivating ?
The comment by Sakharam above is quite valid. I know that in Karnataka, one cant cut one's own teak tree even if was planted by one's grandfather and one wants to cut it to make furniture or house for oneself. You have to take the permission of forest department and well ... we all know how government departments work. The greasing of palms can be a quite big piece of expenditure depending on the total quantum of trees and species.
ReplyDeleteRosewood and sandalwood is straightaway prohibited and even if one fells it with permission, it can be sold only through forest auctions.
The way government strangulates farmers in the name of environment is amazing, considering the bloody murder that industry is allowed to get away with.
Will try to get some more details in a few days after a meet with DFO..
DeleteRegrading the govt. regulations,No problem in Tamil nadu.
DeleteIt is necessary to inform VAO during the plantation and need to get VAO approval for Harvest.
Got some more details regarding this - Trees can be cut without any restrictions in TN. As suggested by Praveen, the details need to filled up by VAO on a land document called 'Adangal' that contains the survey number, crop type, acreage, presence of water source etc..
DeleteAs far as my knowledge goes, if anybody is planting timber trees or plantation trees it should be ensured to get the details of such type and quantities of trees to be registered in land records maintained by PATWARI or VAO. Generally after one year of planting, the exact tree count and type is to be entered in the records., so when the said trees are to be harvested and shipped out of farm, it becomes a bit easy to get necessary permit to cut and transport and sell them from the Forest Department.
DeleteSo instead always blaming the corruption let's correct overselves first by maintaining proper records and by following prescribed procedures so we need not always grease the palms of these officials. The proper maintenance of records helps these officials to process our application in better manner. If we fail to do this then we have to be ready with a can of GREASE!!!
hello mr techie2aggie
ReplyDeletei am from andhra pradesh i want to plant melia dubai plants in my fields can u give some information about this
can u mail me
kusuvuha@choudarymail.com
Suresh,
DeleteI do not have any doc with info as such. Please email me at saverafarms@gmail.com with specific questions..Thanks!
Dear Kaushtubh
ReplyDeleteCould you please post the latest pictures of Melia dubia
Thanks
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe effort is good. But not the outcome. The progress should have been better after 1 year. You can observe branches at the height of 12-13 ft itself. Could have been managed better. In case you are interested to know the growth after 1 year in my farm, you may send me your whattsup request so that I can send you the photographs and share the micro details that are crucial in the cultivation of Melia Dubia. Pest Management is the fulcrum for the success. I am an agriculturist. 9920033359
ReplyDeletePlease note my number. 9920033359
ReplyDeleteHi , I am planning to 4000 of melia dubia, any advise on the plantation area concerned to chennai - madurankantam - cheyyur region, having punjai and nenhjai soils , awaiting your replies,
ReplyDeleteIs the trees poor for high wind speeds above 75kmph??
Thanks for any reply
please tell me what is the inter crop that we can grow with melia dubia if it's planted in 15*15ft space... can we grow banana for first couple of yrs or anything else?
ReplyDeleteCan I plant melia dubia as a border plant in a pomegranate plantation? Thrips are common pests fot both melia dubia and pomegranate planys
ReplyDeleteCan any tell me how deep the root penetrate
ReplyDelete@ Nandish Kumar / Techie2aggie : Now it is almost more than 5 years, can you share the results and economics plz? Thanks - Rajinikanth R
ReplyDeleteI have Melia dubia plants since last 4 years,now grown up to 20-30 ft,some of them body is well developed but some yet to develop,pl suggest any fertizers to grow fast.
ReplyDeleteKatol,Nagpur (MS)
ReplyDelete