Neem - Azadirachta indica
Description and Uses
Azadirachta indica (Neem) is a tropical tree from East India. It is mainly grown for its medicinal crops (very long shelflife), but also Other uses include; medicinal, mulch, oil, ornamental, repellent pesticide and timber can be produced. The crop is harvested by hand picking. It starts flowering after 5 - 12 years. The first yield will be 30 kg/tree/year but in its top season there will be a yield of 55 kg/tree/year. The shoot is edible. Medical uses include; Array The seed/nut contains Azadirachtin (300 - 2500 ppm). There is neem-oil extracted by expeller pressing from the tree`s seed/nut yielding 40 - 48% oil. The tree`s wood is called neem wood and has a density of 680 - 700 kg/m³. Regarding firewood production the tree`s growing speed is medium, its energetic value is 4200 ckal/kg and the wood`s drying speed is fast; for firewood production it is not ideal. After 40 years the tree can be totally removed as it reached its commercial and ecological goal. Azadirachta indica has a lifespan of 300 years.
Environmental limitations
The tree is 15 meters tall. It is medium growing and tolerates not less light than full sun. Azadirachta indica has a deep root-system and forms symbiotic relations it has symbiotic associations with the Glomus intraradices fungus. (endo-mycorrhiza). It is not able to fix nitrogen. The tree`s flower-morphology is hermaphroditic and is pollinated by insects. Azadirachta indica is evergreen and a bit allelopathic and has no thorns.
Azadirachta indica thrives in an altitude of 0 to 1500 meters above sea-level (tropical). The minimum temperature is -1°C and optimally between 15 - 40°C. The optimal rainfall is 1000 mm/year. Without irrigation the annual rainfall should be between 400 - 1200 mm (L/m²). The optimal soil-pH is between 6.0 - 7.0 in a soil texture of sand. To salt it is tolerant to wind tolerant and to fire intolerant.
Pests and Diseases
Aonidiella orientalis,Helopeltis antonii,Pulvinaria and to Angular leaf spot as disease diseases.
Seed Propagation
Seeds are recalcitrant and can be stored for 1 months. There are approximative 3900 seeds/kg. The seeds can be propagated as followed: (1) Store harvested seeds in water or in the fruit at room temperature, (2) Soak the seeds overnight in warm water before sowing., (3) press the seeds twice its size in the soil soil.
