It prefers areas with an average annual rainfall ranging from 450 to 1150 mm and can tolerate rainfall as low as 130 mm. It can grow in regions with long, dry seasons and high temperatures, but it is not frost hardy. It can adapt to various soil types, including dry, stony, clay, and shallow soils. However, it cannot survive in seasonally waterlogged soils or deep dry sands. It can extract nutrients from sandy soils and thrives in neutral to slightly acidic soil conditions with a pH range of 5 to 6.2. It does not tolerate saline soils. It is usually found in regions with altitudes that support its preferred climatic conditions.
Neem
NEEM (Azadirachta indica) is a deep-rooted, evergreen tree native to the dry forests of India and Burma. It is highly adaptable, tolerating low rainfall, dry seasons, and high temperatures. The tree is valued for its medicinal properties, insect-repellent leaves, durable wood, and as a source of firewood.
NEEM (Azadirachta indica )
India
Other Relevant Information: - The neem tree is known for its strong insect-repellent properties, and its leaves are often used to repel insects from books, grains, and clothes. - The twigs of the neem tree are used as toothbrushes. - The bark of the neem tree is used to make a decoction for fevers, nausea, liver complaints, jaundice, and as a poultice for wounds and skin diseases. - Neem bark oil is used as a rub for rheumatism. - The fruit of the neem tree is steeped or crushed and used for urinary complaints, piles, and worms. It is considered a purgative and an emollient. - The oil extracted from neem seeds is applied to the body to cure skin diseases. - Propagation of neem trees is typically done through seeds, although the seeds have a short lifespan of only 2 or 3 weeks. - Neem seedlings are sensitive to frost and fire, and proper weed control is necessary for their growth.
It can grow on most soils including dry, stony, clay, and shallow soils but not seasonally waterlogged soils or deep dry sands where the water table lies below 18 m. The roots seem to be able to extract nutrients from the most leached of sandy soils. Its optimum soil pH is 6.2 although it will grow well at pH 5, actually bringing soil to a neutral condition by leaf litter. It is not tolerant of saline soils.
Family: MELIACEAE
A deep rooted, broad leafed tree which is usually evergreen but may lose its leaves during drought. A native of the dry forests of India through to Burma, it is potentially among the most valuable of arid land trees. It usually occurs in areas of 450 - 1150 mm average annual rainfall, but will tolerate annual rainfalls as low as 130 mm. It can tolerate long, dry seasons and great heat but is not frost hardy. It will grow on most soils including dry, stony, clay and shallow soils but not seasonally waterlogged soils (where the taproot rots and the tree dies off) or deep dry sands where the water table lies below 18 m. The roots seem to be able to extract nutrients from the most leached of sandy soils. Its optimum soil pH is 6.2 although it will grow well at pH 5, actually bringing soil to a neutral condition by leaf litter. It is not tolerant of saline soils.
The seeds and leaves yield azadarachtin and is used as described for Melia azedarach. The wood is similar to Cuban mahogany and resists decay and insects and is tougher than teak. The tree coppices readily and the poles are straight and strong. It is excellent for construction and furniture making. Termite attack is rare. It is a valuable source of firewood having almost as high a calorific value as coal.
In India it is one of the five trees planted in the sacred grove where it is planted as a companion to mango and Ficus religiosa. There, the leaves are dried and placed in books, grain and clothes to repel insects. The twigs are used as toothbrushes, the bark made into a decoctipn for fevers, nausea, liver complaints and jaundice, or made into a poultice for wounds and skin diseases.
Bark oil is used as a rub for rheumatism while the fruit is steeped or crushed and used for urinary complaints, piles and worms. The fruit is considered a purgative and an emollient. The oil from the seed is rubbed onto the body as a cure for skin diseases.
Propagation is by seed, but the seed is very short lived (2 or 3 weeks). The seedlings are killed by frost and fire and need to be kept free of weeds.