Acacia nilotica, (Linn.) Wild, Ex.Del. |
(Syn.Acacia arabica var.indica.) |
Family:Leguminosae _Mimosoideae |
Common Name : Babul |
Telugu Name : Nallatumma, Tumma |
General : |
Occurs throughout the state. Easily identified by the yellow globose flower heads; dark brown or nearly black bark with deep longitudinal fissures and ivory white large stipular spines. Recommended for plantation in alluvial loam, tank silt, black -cotton soils, alkaline soils (provided the moisture conditions are favourable). It is a strong light demander, poor coppicer and moderately drought-resistant species. |
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Flowering : |
Yellow coloured flowers in globose heads appear in June to September. |
Fruiting : |
Moniliform pods ripen in April to May. |
Morphology of the Fruit/Seed : |
Pods moniliform, deeply constricted between the seeds, densely grey tomentose, sub-indehiscent; seeds 8 to 12 per pod, compressed, ovoid, dark brown, shining, with hard testa. |
Seed Collection and Storage : |
Seeds annually; mature pods collected from the ground in April-May, dried in the sun, beaten with sticks to separate the seeds. Retains viability for 2 to 3 years if stored carefully. |
Seed Biology : |
No.of seeds per kg. |
Purity percent |
Moisture percentage |
Germination percentage |
Plant Percent |
Germination period in days |
7,000 to 11,000 |
99 |
7.5 |
80 to 90 |
60 to 70 |
7 to 30 |
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Pretreatment :
Soaking in cold water for 48 hours at room temperature; or immersing the seeds in hot water at 800C and allowing it to soak until cool; or keeping the seed in moist cowdung heap for 2 to 3 days; or in conc. H2SO2 for 10 to 14 minutes. Treated seeds should be sown immediately.
Nursery Technique :
Seedlings are raised in polythene bags by sowing the treated seeds about 1.5 cms deep in April-May, Excess watering is avoided after 2 months. Shade is provided to avoid surface cracking. |