Bilvam grafted

Description

• Fruit large about 15 cm diam., globbose, ovoid and 8-15 celled. COMMON NAMES: Bilva, Holy fruit tree, Bel, Shirphal. DISTRIBUTION : The tree is a native of India and is found wild throughout the Indian Peninsula, in dry hilly places ascending to 1200 m in the western Himalaya. PART USED: Fruit, Root, Leaves.

• CULTIVATION: SOIL AND CLIMATE Good sandy loam soil, sunny situation, warm humid climate are suitable for cultivation of this plant. NURSERY RAISING AND PLANTING Bael is generally propagated by seeds. Sowing is done in June or July.

• The development of seedlings is very slow. They require at least a year in the nursery to be fit for transplanting. They should be transplanted in rainy season, the stem is ordinarily 5-7 cm tall with 3-5 leaves, and the taproot, 20-25 cm long. It is also propagated by root cuttings and stem cuttings treating with IBA (4000 ppm) using quick dip method.

• Seedlings or budded plants are transplanted in the field at a spacing of 10-12 m. Budded plants start bearing fruits at the age of 4-5 years, whereas seedling trees require 7-8 years.

• THINNING AND WEEDING It requires attention during first year when they are well manured and weeded after the rains. MANURES, FERTILISERS AND PESTICIDES The medicinal plants have to be grown without chemical fertilizers and use of pesticides. Organic manures like, Farm Yard Manure (FYM), Vermi-Compost, Green Manure etc. may be used as per requirement of the species. To prevent diseases, bio-pesticides could be prepared (either single or mixture) from Neem (kernel, seeds & leaves), Chitrakmool, Dhatura, Cow’s urine etc.