ASHOKA TREE 

Botanical Name : Saraca asoca

Family : Fabaceae

The Ashoka tree, also known as Saraca asoca, is a beautiful, evergreen tree that is native to India and Sri Lanka. It is considered sacred in Hindu mythology and is often planted in temple courtyards and along roadsides.

The tree has a variety of traditional medicinal uses in Ayurveda, including the treatment of gynecological disorders, digestive problems, and skin diseases. The bark of the Ashoka tree is particularly prized for its healing properties, and is commonly used to treat uterine disorders and menstrual irregularities.

In addition to its medicinal uses, the Ashoka tree is also valued for its ornamental qualities. It has large, bright green leaves, and produces clusters of fragrant, bright orange-yellow flowers that bloom throughout the year. The tree's graceful, weeping branches and attractive foliage make it a popular choice for landscaping and garden design.

Read More

Jungle Jalebi

 MADRAS THORN

Botanical name : Pithecellobium dulce

Family : Fabaceae

Vernacular names : Manila Tamarind, Camachile, Jungle Jalebi

The Jungle Jalebi tree (Pithecellobium dulce) is a species of flowering tree in the family Fabaceae, native to Central and South America. It is also known as Madras Thorn, Manila Tamarind, or Camachile.

The tree can grow up to 25 meters tall, and it has a spreading canopy with branches that droop downwards. The leaves are pinnate, and each leaf has 8-16 pairs of leaflets. The flowers are small and white, and they bloom in clusters. The fruit of the Jungle Jalebi tree is a pod that is 7-20 cm long and 2-3 cm wide. The pods are brown in color and have a hard, woody shell. Inside the pod, there are 6-10 seeds that are surrounded by a sweet, sticky pulp.

The pulp of the Jungle Jalebi fruit is edible and has a sweet and sour taste. It is often used to make jams, jellies, and drinks. The seeds are also edible and can be roasted and eaten like nuts. The wood of the Jungle Jalebi tree is hard and durable, and it is used for making furniture and construction materials.

The Jungle Jalebi tree is a popular ornamental tree and is often planted in parks and gardens. It is also used in landscaping to provide shade and as a windbreak. The tree is drought-tolerant and can grow in a wide range of soil types, making it an ideal tree for reforestation projects.

Read More

 Peacock Flower

Botanical name : Caesalpinia pulcherrima

Family : Caesalpiniaceae

Sanskrit name : Ratnagandhi, Krishnachuda

Peacock tree, also known as Caesalpinia pulcherrima, is a flowering plant native to the tropical regions of Central and South America. The tree is named after the vibrant and colorful plumage of the peacock, which the flowers of the tree resemble in their shades of orange, red, yellow, and pink.

Peacock tree is a popular ornamental plant, prized for its showy, long-lasting flowers and lush, fern-like foliage. It can be grown as a small tree or large shrub, reaching heights of up to 15 feet. The tree is drought-tolerant and can thrive in a wide range of soil types, making it a low-maintenance addition to any garden.

The peacock tree is also valued for its medicinal properties. Various parts of the plant, including the flowers, leaves, and roots, have been used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments, such as fever, respiratory problems, and digestive issues. Recent studies have also shown that the plant contains compounds that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, making it a promising candidate for the development of new drugs.

In addition to its ornamental and medicinal uses, the peacock tree has cultural significance in many parts of the world. In India, for example, the plant is known as "Krishna Kamal," and is associated with the Hindu deity Lord Krishna. The flowers of the tree are used in religious rituals and are believed to bring good luck and prosperity.

Despite its many benefits, the peacock tree is also known to be invasive in some regions, such as Hawaii and parts of Australia. In these areas, the tree can quickly spread and outcompete native vegetation, leading to ecological imbalances. As a result, it is important to exercise caution when introducing the peacock tree to new environments and to ensure that it does not become a threat to local ecosystems.

In conclusion, the peacock tree is a beautiful and versatile plant that offers many benefits to both humans and the environment. Whether grown for its showy flowers, medicinal properties, or cultural significance, this tree is sure to make a stunning addition to any garden or landscape. However, it is important to be mindful of its potential to become invasive in some regions and to take appropriate measures to prevent its spread.

Read More

 Precision farming

Meaning :

      Precision farming is actually a information & technology based farm management system to identify, analyse and manage special and temporary variability for optimum productivity, profitability and sustainability and protection of land resources by minimising cost for land preparation.

What is precision farming ?

       Precision Farming or Precision Agriculture is a concept of using the new technologies and collect field information for doing the right thing, in the right place, at the right time. Collected information may be used to more precisely evaluate optimum sowing density, estimate fertilizers and other input needs, and to more accurately predict crop yields.

History of Precision Farming :

      The concept of precision farming was emerged in early 1980's at United States. First time concept of precision farming was theorized by Dr. Pierre Robert Father of modern precision farming. He came up with the concept while in college and spent many years studying and pioneering precision farming principles.

      Since 1989, many U.S. farmers used low-input sustainable agriculture (LISA) techniques to reduce the usage of chemicals. This was followed by the use of yield monitors, the internet and global positioning systems. 

The first yield monitor was created in 1992 and further allowed adoption of technology in farming. 

The use of technology increased by 1994 with satellite technology (GPS). 

M.S.Swaminathan is said to be Father of precision farming in India.

Scopes of precision farming:

1. Scope to increase profitabilityand sustainability.
2. Scope in optimising product quality.
3. Scope in optimising production quality.
4. Most efficient chemical and seed use.
5. Effective and efficient pest management.
6. Scope in energy, water and soil conservation.
7. Scope in minimising environmental impact.

Importance of precision farming:

1. Reduced agronomic inputs.
2. Better record keeping.
3. On farm research.
4. Reduced environmental impact.
5. Property advantage.
6. More ground farmed. 
7. Increased profit through increased efficiency.

Site Specific Input Application:

The most commonly used consumable inputs are:

• High-quality seeds.
• Soil.
• Fertilizers.
• Insecticides.
• Pesticides.
• Insect Traps.
• Straw.
• Hay.

      These inputs should used at right time and right place, it will give proper yeild and growth in economy.

Components used in Precision Farming:

1) GPS (Geographical positioning system)

2) GIS (Geographical Information System)

3) Grid Sampling

4) Precision Irrigation

5) Remote sensor

6) Proximate sensor

7) Yeil monitoring

For powerpoint presentation click on below link......👇👇

PRECISION FARMING

Video link.....👇👇

Read More

The Soap Berry Tree

 Soap Berry Tree

Bt.name. - Sapindus saponaria                                                        Family - Sapindaceae

Soap Berry Tree

In India the Soap Berry Tree is commonly known in Marathi as Reetha.

         Soap Berry Tree is native to warm temperate to tropical climatic conditions, soap berries are also known as soap nuts. This is from Sapindus genus which includes species of shrubs, and also some small trees from this we can say that the soap berry tree is a type of small tree. Soap Berry Tree is a deciduous tree which sheds their leaves at particular time to save water.

Leaves Of Reetha

Leaves are long about 15-40cm they are pinnate and contains 14-30 leaflets.

Flowers Of Reetha

Flowers are form in large panicles, each flower is small and creamy white in colour.

The fruit is small leathery skinned, it has diameter of 1-2 cm. The fruit become yellowish - blackish when it ripens, each fruit contains one to three seeds. 

The drupe contains saponins which having surfactant properties, and have been used by peoples of ancient Asia for washing their cloths as well as hands. 

  

Read More

THE TAMARIND TREE

 TAMARIND

Scientific name -  Tamarindus indica

Family - Fabaceae

COMMON NAMES:  

   1) The Tamarind. 

   2) Imli, Amli in Hindi.

   3) Tamarindus is from the Persian name for this tree tamar-i-Hindi, i.e., the date of India.

   4) Indica in Latin means Indian.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT TAMARIND TREE:

   1) A very large handsome evergreen tree with dark grey rough bark. 

   2) Leaves with 10-20 pairs of leaflets. 

   3) Flowers about 0.5 inch long, variegated yellow and red, appearing in the hot weather. 

   4) Pods 3-6 inches long, 0.5 inch thick, filled with dark brown fibrous, acid pulp, containing 3-10 seeds, ripening in the cold weather.

   5) There is a variety the pod of which has sweet pulp and another variety with a reddish pulp. 

   6) The last named is considered the best.

USES OF THE TAMRIND TREE:

   1) In suitable places the tamarind is one of the finest trees in India, growing to an enormous size (a girth of 42 feet has been recorded) and reaching a great age. 

   2) The pulp of the fruit is a favourite ingredient of curries and chutneys, it is used medicinally and also for making sherbet. 

   3) The leaves and flowers are also eaten. 

   4) The timber is durable but hard and difficult to work.  

   5) Moreover the heartwood is rather small, otherwise the tree would be much more valuable foe timber. 

   6) It is used for mallets, rice-pounders, oil presses, etc.

HABITAT OF THE TAMRIUND TREE:

   1) Believed to be indigenous to Tropical Africa. 

   2) Now cultivated everywhere in the tropics and found growing spontaneously in Asia and America.

Read More

The Babul Tree

 

ACACIA ARABICA

Family – Leguminosae

Scientific name – Acacia arabica

COMMON NAMES:

1. It is commonly called as the Babul tree.
2. Gum Arabic
3. Kikar or Babul in Hindi
4. Babla in Bengali
5. Karu-valam in Tamil and Malayalam
6. Baval in Gujarati

GENERAL INFORMATION OF THE BABUL TREE:

1. It is the small medium sized tree with dark-coloured rough bark.
2. Young trees armed with strong straight ivory-white spines which may be 2 inches long.
3. These spines occur in pairs at the leaf-stalk arid are absent on old trees.
4. Branches subject to browsing by cattle are particularly well armed.
5. These trees leaves are compound, divided up into a great number of very small leaflets.
6. Flowers in golden balls about 0.5 in. diam.  The individual flowers being very small.
7. Fruit is a grey velvety pod more or less constricted between the seeds.
8. Flowers of these trees are appears during and after the rains, July to November.

USES OF THE BABUL TREE:

1. All parts of these trees are useful and important to the village people.
2. Branches and the leaves are cut down and used as the food for the cattle and the goats.
3. The heavy wood is used as the fuel and charcoal, and is also used for making the farm tools.
4. The gum, which comes from the trunk and oozes out of damaged parts of the bark from February to March which used for making sweets and glue.
5. The twigs(a slender woody shoot growing from a branch or stem of tree or shrub) are used for cleaning the teeth.
6. Lac is also obtained from this tree.
7. The thorns are used as pins.

Read More