Acha

Scientific name: Hardwickia binata

Distribution: The tree is found in the Deccan peninsula, Central India, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Nursery Technology: The seeds should be soaked in water for 24 hours. Season of seed sowing in nursery on June to July and germinates with in 10-35 days and the nursery beds should be prepared in the shade, covered lightly with hay and burnt.

Stump planting: The stumps can be made from one year old seedlings and should contain 4 cm of shoot and 13-15 cm of roots. The stump can be treated with cow’s urine for six hours and should be planted in the big polythene bags or nursery beds.

Field planting: The seedlings can be transplanted into the fields after 12 months. Also the sprouted stumps can be transplanted into the fields after 12 months during the rainy season. The vigorous growth of the seedling starts only after they are 4-6 years old.

Uses: The wood is used as timber. The bark yields a fibre used for well ropes. The leaves are used as fodder and green manure. Oleo-resin extracted from the heart wood is used in manufacture of varnishes.