Sandalwood based agroforestry systems in Bundelkhand region of central India

Sandalwood is one of the world’s high-value tree crops and is native to the southern India. It is fast diminishing in its native forest ranges. However, greater and growing demand for its scented wood oil and wood product is encouraging its cultivation on agricultural land parcels under agroforestry systems. Although the existence of sandalwood in Central India has been reported, particularly in parched Bundelkhand region, its cultivation on agricultural lands is rarely reported. Therefore, a study was conducted to describe the prospects of sandalwood cultivation in the semi-arid Bundelkhand region of Central India. A survey was conducted to identify existing plantations in the region. During the survey, a well-established 15-year-old private plantation comprising trees of different age classes was identified at Deligaon, Jhansi, India. To determine the heartwood formation and wood oil content, twenty matured trees were harvested. The heartwood yield ranged from 5 kg-30 kg per tree, while the oil content varied between 1.7 % to 4.0 %. These results indicated that sandalwood, historically revered as the ‘royal tree’, holds potential to be promoted as a viable household tree in the semi-arid Bundelkhand region. Promotion of sandalwood agroforestry practices in India has multifaceted benefits, as smallholder may get higher farm revenue with low investment and maintenance, enhanced land value, improved ecosystem services (birds, butterflies, bees etc.) besides sequestering considerable amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.