Assessment of host trees on heartwood and oil content in fourteen-year-old sandalwood plantations in Chitradurga district of Karnataka

Abstract

A study was conducted during the year 2018-2021 at College of Forestry, Sirsi for studied on Assessment of host trees on heartwood and oil content on fourteen year old sandalwood plantations in Chitradurga district of Karnataka. The important objectives of this study was screening of secondary host plants on heartwood and oil content of sandalwood tree in different agroforestry systems of Karnataka in Chitradurga district, the results revealed that 32.54 per cent increase in clear bole height of sandalwood tree with Melia dubia followed by 31.20 per cent in Emblica officinalis as a host plant in fourteen year old sandalwood plantation. Sandal tree volume of main stem was improved 41.50 per cent increased with Emblica officinalis followed by Casuarina equisetifolia (34.84%). 42.48 per cent enhancement in sandal heartwood content with Punica granatum over 40.28 per cent in Emblica officinalis. 31.69 per cent increased in oil content was observed with Melia dubia followed by 21.55 per cent in Acacia nilotica and 21.55 per cent in Dalbergia latifolia as a secondary host plants for sandalwood trees. Significantly higher oil content was noticed with Swietenia mahogani (2.22%) on par with the other secondary host of Psidium guajava (2.38%), Murraya koenigii (2.40%) and Emblica officinalis (2.45%) as compared to other field hosts.