PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY OF TAMARIND
Tamarindus indica Linn. commonly known as tamarind, belonging to the family Caesalpinioideae. Tamarind is a diploid species (2n = 24), large evergreen or semi-evergreen tree growing up to 20 meters in height, sometimes with trunk up to 4.0 meters in width and with a dense spreading crown The branches are crooked, thick and widespread thus tamarind has poor tree form. Yet, with its round large spreading crown it is one among the magnificent tropical trees.
Tamarind is highly wind-resistant tree, with strong, supple branches, gracefully drooping at the ends, and has dark-gray, rough, fissured bark. It is grown unattended in backyards, roadsides or wastelands. It is suited for avenue plantings as a roadside tree, in and around villages as multipurpose trees for agroforestry systems or as fire breaks for forest margins. It is a valuable timber species used in making furniture, tool handles, charcoal, rice pounders and fuel wood.
The Tamarind tree bears fruits and it contains about 30% pulp, 40% seeds and 30% hull. The fruit pulp is the richest natural source of tartaric acid and is the main acidulant used in the preparation of foods in India and other Asian countries. The fruit pulp is used for preparation of tamarind juice, concentrate, the powder, pickles and paste.
Naturally, there are different types of tamarind. Depending on the fruit color the tamarind is classified as Red and Green tamarind. Green Tamarind is again classified as sour and sweet tamarind depending on their acidity and sugar levels. Sour tamarind contains high acidity and low sugar. Sweet tamarind is found to be high in sugar and low acidity. The presence of high levels of anthocyanin in red tamarind; is used in dyes and food coloring. Sweet tamarind has high levels of vitamins and minerals they are used in candy, and jelly making.
Tamarind has been cultivated in our country for hundreds of years. Tamarind is one of the most important multipurpose trees grown and distributed in tropical and sub-tropical climates. Tamarind is native to South Africa. India has been cultivating and exporting tamarind worldwide. In India around 82,000 acres are under tamarind cultivation and major areas of cultivation are in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Odhisa, and Madhya Pradesh.
CULTIVATION PRACTICES
A general description of soil, climatic and other factors suitable for Tamarind cultivation is given below:
Soil and Climate : Tamarind is cultivated in various soil types, even in degraded, gravelly, eroded, saline, and alkaline. However, fertile drainage soil at a depth of 3 to 6 feet will give good results. The optimum temperature for tamarind is 25° C to 40° C (Day temperature 36 C to 47 C and Night temperature 5 C to 17 C). Rainfall should be around 500 - 700 mm per year. 100 m above MSL altitude suits well.
Land Preparation and Nursery : The land should be well ploughed and prepared to fine tilth. The lands having rocks, and boulders should be avoided for the better growth of the tree.
Production of Seedlings : Seeds are sown in March –April. Soaking of seeds in 10% cow urine or dung solution (500 grams in 10 liters of water) for 24 hours gives good results and fast germination. Transplantation of seedlings to the main field is done when they are two years old and for grafted seedlings, it’s 10 months to one year old.
Tamarind Varieties : Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (IFGTB) has been conducting field research throughout India to select the best mother tree, breeding them by Approach grafting and patch grafting and maintaining the grafts in the germplasm bank. IFGTB provides selected varieties of high-yielding red, sweet, and sour seedlings to the farmers. Tamarind being a cross-pollinated tree species, it is recommended to plant three or four varieties of tamarind in the same field to have a high fruit set and yield.
Other Varieties:
Planting Season : Grafted seedlings should be planted before or after the onset of monsoon. The best season for planting of tamarind is June to December. About 6 - 12 months old grafts should be used for establishing tamarind plantation.
Planting and Spacing : The spacing of adopted for tamarind planation varied depending on the soil type, rainfall, climatic conditions and growth habit of the varieties to be planted. In general, the grafted tamarinds were planted at a spacing of 6 x 6 m to 10 x 10 m. Pits of 1x1x1m should be dug and allowed for natural disinfection by sun light before planting. The pit should be filled with more than half the depth with a mixture of 10 kg of FYM, 100 gms of neem cake and topsoil per pit. Planting of the grafts should be done in the middle of the pit and support the graft with a stake immediately after planting.
Agro forestry : Intercrops like leguminous crops, short-duration vegetables, annual moringa, sesamum, and sorghum can be raised in the alley spaces for up to four years.
Water Management : Watering should be done on the day of planting and the third day from planting. Then regular watering should be done once a week (seven days). For the first three years after planting the tamarind should be watered once in 15 days. It is advisable to stop watering tamarind two months before the flowering season. This enhances better blooming by making the tree hard, and sturdy. During the time of fruit set water once in 15 days to reduce the young fruit shedding and increase yield.
Fertilizer Management : Fertilizer for young seedlings should be applied at a depth of 60 cm from the base of the tree and 160 cm for fruiting trees. Dig 15-20 cm deep circular pits and apply the fertilizer. This fertilizer application is done for the roots are spread around and stretch till the canopy level. Apply manures as two split applications i.e., first application during the monsoon and second application during flowering and pod development stage.
|
Age |
Dosage ( Kg/ Tree) |
|||
|
FYM |
Urea |
Super phosphate |
Muriate of Potash |
|
|
1-5 years |
20 |
0.5 |
1.0 |
0.5 |
|
6-8 years |
30 |
1.0 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
|
9 years and above |
50 |
2.0 |
3.0 |
2.0 |
Training and Pruning : Early training is necessary to form a high head and uniform scaffold branches in all directions. Periodically rootstock sprouts should be removed during the early growth and development period. Generally pruning is not practiced in tamarind, in order to maintain a good stature trees cut off unwanted inner, cris-cross, diseased, and dried branches. Pruning leads to a sufficient supply of sunlight and wind, it also activates the dormant buds in the vegetative shoots and regulate the flowering pattern of the trees. Manure and water the field after pruning. Apply cow dung or fungicide to the wounds that occurred during pruning. The dried and diseased parts are to be removed after pod harvest.
Spraying Growth Regulators : Application of micro-nutrients and growth regulators through foliar applications has more effectiveness for enhances the yield and the fleshiness of the fruits. Foliar application of Potassium nitrate 2.0% solution in the first week of March or Soil drenching of Cultar at 3000 ppm solution through the root to enhance the flowering of the tree. During flowering growth regulator NAA can be applied at the rate of 20 mg/ liter with an interval of 15 days to reduce the dropping of flowers and fruits, and increase fruit set.
Harvest and Yield : Tamarind is best harvested during the period of February to the first week of April with well-matured fruit pods with stalks. Grafts start yielding from 4 to 6 years after planting. The sour tamarind will yield around 40-60 kgs/ tree/ year. In sweet tamarind, yields around 25-30 kg of fruits. Sweet tamarind can be sold for 100 to 125 rupees per Kg (with pods). In red tamarind pods of 75-100 days old can be harvested and used in manufacturing natural dyes. About 150 - 250 kg of unripe pods/tree/year (after 10 years of planting) can be harvested.
TAMARIND CULTIVATION BUDGET (per acre)
|
Sl. no |
Expenses |
1st Year |
2nd Year |
3rd Year |
4th Year |
5th Year |
6th Year |
|
1 |
Land Preparation |
1250 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
2 |
Ploughing |
2000 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
3 |
Excavation(digging pits) |
2000 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
4 |
Farm Yard Manure |
2500 |
1000 |
- |
1000 |
- |
1000 |
|
5 |
Seedlings |
8000 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
6 |
Planting |
2500 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
7 |
Irrigation |
10,000 |
10,000 |
10,000 |
10,000 |
10,000 |
10,000 |
|
8 |
Manure and fertilizing |
5000 |
5000 |
5000 |
5000 |
5000 |
2500 |
|
9 |
weeding |
2500 |
2500 |
2500 |
2500 |
2500 |
- |
|
10 |
Growth stimulants |
- |
- |
- |
- |
2500 |
2500 |
|
11 |
Pruning |
- |
- |
- |
1000 |
- |
1000 |
|
12 |
Alternate ploughing |
- |
1000 |
- |
1000 |
- |
1000 |
|
13 |
Harvest |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
5000 |
|
14 |
Inter cropping |
10,000 |
10,000 |
10,000 |
10,000 |
- |
- |
|
Total expenditure |
45,750 |
19,500 |
17,500 |
29,500 |
20,000 |
18,000 |
*Denominations in Rupees (Rs.).
|
Sl. no |
Revenue |
1st Year |
2nd Year |
3rd Year |
4th Year |
5th Year |
6th Year |
|
1 |
Yield/ tree |
- |
- |
- |
30 Kg |
30 Kg |
|
|
2 |
Yield/ acre |
- |
- |
- |
- |
4800 Kg |
4800 Kg |
|
3 |
Income/ acre |
- |
- |
- |
- |
72,000 |
72,001 |
|
4 |
Income from intercrop |
25,000 |
25,000 |
25,000 |
- |
- |
- |
*Denominations in Rupees (Rs.).