Looking for a quick timber tree faster than teak. Want to know about melia dubia rotation and market.
Is melia dubia a good fast growing timber tree for plywood?
PPalanisamy8mo ago · 307 views
5 Answers
🌾Farmer.in Krishi TeamExpert ✓8mo ago
Melia dubia, often called malabar neem or hebbevu, is one of the fastest growing timber trees in India and has become popular for the plywood and packing wood industry because it matures much faster than teak. With good clonal planting material, irrigation and care, it can reach harvestable plywood size in roughly six to eight years, far quicker than traditional hardwoods. It suits southern states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra, grows on a range of soils, and allows intercropping in the early years while the canopy is open. Returns per acre over the rotation can be attractive but depend on clone quality, spacing, irrigation, survival and the plywood wood rate at harvest, which varies with industry demand. Buyers are plywood and packing case units. Use proven clonal plants, not random seedlings, give it water and weeding in early years, and confirm current plywood wood prices and nearby buyers before planting a large block.
KKumaravel7mo ago
Melia dubia grows really fast compared to teak. With irrigation my trees bulked up well in a few years. Plywood units buy the wood here in the Erode belt. Use proper clones, ordinary seedlings grow uneven and slow.
DDevi7mo ago
I intercropped in the first two years while the trees were small, that covered some cost. Needs water and weeding early or growth slows. Check the plywood wood rate with local mills before planting big, demand decides your money.
SSaravanakumar6mo ago
Clone choice is everything with this tree. The proven clones from a known nursery grow straight and uniform, while cheap seedlings I tried first were a mixed lot, some fast some slow, and the mill paid less for the crooked ones. Spend a bit more on planting material.
EEswari6mo ago
It is fast but not no care. Without water and weeding in the first two summers my growth slowed badly. Once it crossed that early stage with irrigation it raced ahead. Confirm a plywood buyer in the belt before a big block, demand there decides your final rate.