3. What is Neem ?
Azadirachta indica
• A tree in the mahogany family Meliaceae.
• One of two species in the genus Azadirachta.
• Native to India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
and Bangladesh growing in tropical and semi-tropical
regions.
4. Leaves….
• Opposite.
• Pinnate leaves 20–40 cm long.
• 20 to 31 medium to dark green leaflets.
• About 3–8 cm long.
• The terminal leaflet is often missing.
• The petioles are short.
5. Flowers….
• The (white and fragrant) flowers are
arranged axillary
• The inflorescences, which branch up to the
third degree, bear from 150 to 250 flowers.
• An individual flower is 5–6 mm long and 8–
11 mm wide.
• Bisexual flowers
6. Fruit…..
• The fruit is a the staminal drupe
• 12-18 mm long
• ovoid-oblong
• yellowish-green smooth
7. Uses of Neem
• Timber
• Fresh leaves
• Dried leaves
• Flowers
• Fruits
• Bark
8. What is Tree Improvement ?
• An additional tool of
Silviculture which deals with the
kind and genetic makeup of
trees used in forest operations.
10. Site selection
Factor Circumstances
Frost sensitive, especially seedlings.
Temperature
Shade temperature - 30-35ºC in Sri Lanka;
400-1200 mm/yr.
Rainfall 130 mm/yr to survive, but 450 mm/yr to grow
well.
0-800 Mean annual sea level.; occasionally to
Altitude
1000 m.
Soil Type Well drained, deep sandy soils.
Soil pH 6.2-7.0, but 5.9-10.0 tolerated
Needs sunlight for productivity.
Light
Seedlings need some protection from sun.
13. Production line seed for operational planting
Wild stands and plantations
Pick the very best 30-40 trees.
First generation seed orchard
Progeny test
Roughed first generation seed orchard
Intensive selection
Improved first generation seed orchard
Progeny test
Second generation seed orchard
15. IMPROVEMENT OF SEED SOURCES.
• The results from selection, testing and
evaluation will enable improved
sources to be identified and
established.
• These will be the "machines" of the
improvement program, by which
improved seeds or cuttings can be
produced for routine use.
16. PRODUCTION OF IMPROVED SEEDS AND
CUTTINGS
Possible gains.
• actual mass production of seeds or
cuttings, in sufficient quantities