best host plant for sandalwood in karnataka

Sandalwood is dependent on nutrients and water from host plants to survive and grow. The best hosts are nitrogen-fixing trees, especially the wattles (Acacia species). Extensive trials have shown that jam (Acacia acuminata) is an excellent long-term host for sandalwood.

What are the host plants for Sandalwood?

Sandal has over 150 host plants, some of the good hosts being Casuarina equisetifolia, Acacia nilotica, Pongamia pinnata, Melia dubia, Wrightia tinctoria and Cassia siamea.

How can I make my sandalwood tree grow faster?

The tree starts flowering after around seven years, and the tree trunk develops fragrant heartwood after 10 years. Sandalwood saplings should be planted in well drained soil and watered frugally on alternate days. Reduce the volume of water as the years go by. Use organic manure (once in 45 days) only.

What is the cost of sandalwood per kg?

After the age of seven to eight years, the heartwood of a sandalwood tree grows by 1 kg every year, and its market price is between Rs 3,000 and Rs 6,000 per kg.

Where are sandalwood trees found in Karnataka?

Hailed as the land of sandalwood, Karnataka had one of the richest sandalwood reserves largely in forests of Mysuru, Chamarajanagar and Mandya districts. Rampant theft and smuggling of sandalwood in 1970s and 1980s resulted in the decline of sandalwood production.

Which is the best host plant for Sandalwood?

Host species

Sandalwood is dependent on nutrients and water from host plants to survive and grow. The best hosts are nitrogen-fixing trees, especially the wattles (Acacia species). Extensive trials have shown that jam (Acacia acuminata) is an excellent long-term host for sandalwood.

How long do sandalwood trees live?

They may live to one hundred years of age. The tree is variable in habit, usually upright to sprawling, and may intertwine with other species. The plant parasitises the roots of other tree species, with a haustorium adaptation on its own roots, but without major detriment to its hosts.

Can I grow sandalwood in my farm?

Although India has long been known for its sandalwood, it is only in the past decade that farmers have shown interest in growing the plant in their backyards. ... But a policy change in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in 2001 and 2002 respectively allowed people to grow sandalwood.

How many years does a sandalwood tree take to grow?

Though returns on sandalwood cultivation are very high in which naturally grown sandalwood tree takes 30 years to be ready for harvesting whereas intensive cultivation in organic methods gives quick results in 10 to 15 years. The sandalwood grown in India has two colours which are available white and red.

Why sandalwood tree is a partial parasite plant?

The sandalwood tree is considered as a partial root parasite because it completes its nutritional requirements from the other plants. The roots of this type of plant are modified and called haustoria whose function is to penetrate host plants and take nutrition from them.

What is the cost of red sandalwood per kg?

Compare similar products from other sellers

	Red Sandalwood Seed	Red Sandalwood
	₹ 1,100/ Kg	Ask Price
Color	Red	Red
Grade	-	-
Is It ISI Marked	-	-

Which sandalwood is more costly?

Although Sandalwood has many species but only two of them i.e.White Sandalwood and Red Sandalwood are most widely cultivated. Due to its therapeutic and cosmetic value White Sandalwood is quite expensive. It possesses many medicinal properties and are used in alternative medicines.

Does sandalwood expire?

Does Sandalwood powder expire? Sandalwood powder does not expire. However, its colour and odour might change with time, if not stored properly, due to moisture.

Which sandalwood is best white or red?

Red sandalwood is used for treating digestive tract problems, fluid retention, and coughs; and for “blood purification”. Red sandalwood might increase the loss of body water through the urine (diuretic effect).

What is the cost of sandalwood?

Cost of sandalwood ranges from Rs. 12000 to Rs. 16000 per kg even in Khadhi shops and govt stores.

How can you tell real sandalwood?

DNA testing is a sure fire way to identify any wood as genuine Indian Sandalwood, right down to the genus and species. Other than that, the only way to know if what you are getting is real Santalum album is to purchase from someone you trust and has a good reputation for a reliable supply of genuine Indian Sandalwood.

Does red sandalwood need host plant?

The red sandal is NOT root parasite. So host plants are NOT required.

Do snakes like sandalwood?

Do they like the fragrance of sandalwood or is it something else. As far as the labor of snakes is concerned, scientists have proved that snakes do not have the labor of smell. ... But the snakes are wrapped around the sandalwood tree, not because of the scent of sandalwood but to keep themselves cool.

Is Sandalwood a parasitic plant?

Sandalwood is a parasitic plant deriving its nutritional requirement from other plants. It has modified roots called haustoria which penetrate host plants and draw nutrition from them. ... Not just this, an individual tree can form a network with several hosts including the grass around them.

Why is sandalwood expensive?

The reason Sandalwood essential oils is expensive because the source is becoming more scare due to high demand and tree maturity to get high quality oils. Commercially, Australian Sandalwood tree is harvested at minimum age of 15 years.

Why red sandalwood is costly?

Sandalwood is expensive compared to other types of woods, so to maximize profit, sandalwood is harvested by removing the entire tree instead of sawing it down at the trunk close to ground level. This way wood from the stump and root, which possesses high levels of sandalwood oil, can also be processed and sold.