Analysis of Plant, Host and Management Relationships for Sandalwood (santalum Album) Cultivation in New Subtropical Locality of Hill Region of Indian Himalayas

Abstract

Santalum album, a semi parasitic small tree which was introduced in Himachal Pradesh, has shown good growth over last few years. But there is no scientific information regarding suitable long term hosts of the species in this region. This paper examines sandalwood growth over five years at the experimental farm of Regional Horticultural and Forestry Research Station, Bhota, Himachal Pradesh situated at latitude 31^°41'33.43" north and 76^°28'50.53"E longitude. The four types of planting geometries and three most common leguminous tree species Acacia catechu, Dalbergia sissoo and Leucaena leucocephala one non leguminous tree species Morus alba were tested as secondary host of sandal wood. Hexagonal planting of Dalbergia sissoo as host resulted in maximum tree height and diameter of sandal wood tree viz. 3.23m and 7.20 cm, respectively. Sandal wood growing with Dalbergia sissoo recorded maximum number (702) of leaves per branch and with Morus alba had maximum internodal length of 7.0 cm. The over all growth was higher in association with the leguminous trees as host in general and Dalbergia sissoo in particular.