Tamarind monograph.pdf - Crops for the Future

transporting them. Overgrown seedlings can be more effectively
transplanted as stumped seedlings, with stem and tap root pruned to lengths
of about 5 cm and 20-25 cm, respectively (Troup, 1921).
When seedlings or grafted plants are transplanted in the field their size may
range from 0.4-2.0 m tall. In some districts of Tamil Nadu, seedlings are
encouraged to grow up to 2 m tall by applying manure and removing axillary
buds. As these field planted seedlings can be tall and lanky, they should be
staked for at least a year, or until they can support themselves. The planting
holes should be well prepared and be at least 30-50 cm 3 in size.
5.3.3 Field spacing
The spacing between plants may range from 5-13 m apart. Spacing may be
even wider on fertile soils where the trees grow larger. When establishing a
pure stand plantation, the final spacing should be at least 13 x 13 m square or
on the triangle. Inter-cropping of young trees with a range of annual crops is
possible at this spacing There can be an advantage in planting at higher
density (4 x 4 m or 5 x 5 m), followed by thinning two or three times to the
appropriate final spacing of 8-15 x 8-15 m. This allows some further
selection in the field and reduces the weeding costs in the early years. In
parts of India tamarind is established at 8 x 8 m, 8 x 12 m or 12 x 12 m
(Jambulingam and Fernandes, 1986).
The final spacing can be closer when vegetatively propagated plants are
used, as they do not attain the height or spread of seed propagated trees, and
their management is easier. A few promising early-bearing varieties with
high yield potential and attractive fruit qualities are now available for the
growers in India. Some of the most popular cultivars in the south are ‘PKM-
1’, ‘Pradishtan’, and ‘Origam’. Grafted plants of these cultivars are being
grown in Tamil Nadu either as isolated trees or in commercially viable
groves in dry tracts. A spacing of 10 x 5 m has been recommended for
commercial planting, and about 250 trees will be enough to cover a hectare.
In Central, Eastern and North-eastern Thailand, the recommended tree to
tree spacing in sweet tamarind orchards is 10-12 m (Yaacob and
Subhadrabandu, 1995). In the Philippines, the spacing recommended for
seedlings is 16-18 m and for vegetatively propagated plants 8-10 m. In Sri
Lanka, unproductive scrub forest lands have been successfully planted with
tamarind by the Janata Estate Development Board at a spacing of 3 x 3 m in
lines (Rodrigo, 1992).
Tamarind is frequently planted along land borders, canal banks, on field
boundaries, in village groves, or in home gardens as individual trees.
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