EntrePinoys Atbp.

Tamarind (Tamarindus indica Linn.) is one of the minor fruit crops in the Philippines with a great potential for commercialization. In certain parts of the country, it is an important crop because its fruits and other parts have varied food and medicinal uses.

The name Tamarind is from the Persian “tama-i-Hindi” which means Indian Date.

The Tamarind has a short, strong trunk, sometimes slightly buttressed to bear the weight of the wide, spreading crown. The thick bark is almost black and covered with longitudinal fissures and horizontal cracks.

Tamarind has great export potential because its fruit may be processed into a number of acceptable products. But the mature and ripened tamarind fruit of the sweet type is said to be more important and expensive than when it is processed. However, the supply still does not meet the demand.

Propagation

Tamarind may be propagated by seeds and asexual propagation (i.e. grafting). Propagation by seeds is not recommended because the resulting plants do not grow true-to-type.

Seeds obtained from healthy and mature fruits should be cleaned. Individual seeds are planted about two centimeters deep in potted soil rich in organic matter. A soil media with one part soil, one part sawdust, and one part compost is suggested.

For sweet tamarind, cleft grafting is recommended especially for large-scale propagation because it gives a higher percentage of success.

Rootstocks which are six months or older (about 0.8 to 1 cm in diameter) are used for grafting. Mature scions (budsticks) measuring 8-15 cm long and with the same diameter as rootstocks, and with well-developed buds are collected from full-bearing trees of outstanding characteristics. Defoliate the scion after collection and graft immediately. After grafting, cover the scion with plastic ice bag (4×12 in) and place the newly grafted plants under the shade. Transfer them in the open (full sunlight) when the new shoots develop.

Water the plants regularly. In 3-4 weeks, the scion will start to form shoots. It’s best to graft starting November up to May.

Transplanting

Before the onset of the rainy season, the land must be plowed once and harrowed several times until the soil is in its fine tilth. Stakes are set following the desired distance of planting (8 x 10 m). The dug holes must be large enough to accommodate the root system of the plants. The soil around the base of the plant should be packed firmly.

For lahar-laden areas, mix 5 kg compost with the soil. Put about six inches of the mixture before planting. Cover the base of the plant with the remaining mixture. Planting is best done during the rainy season.

Intercropping

For large-scale planting, intercrop the tamarind with short-season cash crops. This way, some income could be derived while the trees are not yet bearing fruits. When the trees have grown and their branches begin to touch each other, intercropping should be stopped.

Irrigation

Water the plants right after planting. This must be done as the needs arises. Sufficient water should be provided during the early years. In later years, watering becomes less critical. Irrigation is beneficial, especially for the development of flowers and fruits.

Fertilization

Tamarind trees bear fruit well even without fertilization. However, fertilizer application is recommended to keep the trees in healthy condition. As a general recommendation: apply 50 g of 16-20-0 and 100 g of 14-14-14 per tree one month after planting. The same amount is added at the end of the rainy season. The amount of fertilizer is gradually increased as the trees grow.

For early bearing fruits, apply 500 g of 14-14-14 per tree twice a year. A full bearing tree may need at least 3 kg of 14-14-14 per year.

Trimming and Pruning

Young trees require little trimming during the first few years. Remove the very low branches and cut long upright shoots during the early years. For bearing trees, remove dead, weak, diseased branches and water sprouts.

Control of Insect Pest and Diseases

There are no major diseases of sweet tamarind observed. However, insect pests such as bagworms, mealybugs, scale insects, leaf feeding caterpillars, shorthole borers and green locust were recorded. These pests may be controlled by spraying the trees with common insecticides at the recommended dosage.

Harvesting

Grafted sweet tamarind may start fruiting in about a year after planting. The fruit may be harvested half-ripe (malasebo) stage and full ripe stage.

To determine the half-ripe stage, scratch the fruit surface with the fingernail at the side not exposed to the sun to remove the brownish powdery material. Mature fruits have brown shells.

Fully ripened fruits are determined by just tapping with the finger which produces a hollow, loose sound. This is because the pulp shrinks at maturity and the skin becomes brittle. Since the fruits mature at different times, harvesting must be done by priming.

Fruits are usually harvested from January to February as the trees bear flowers in May or June.

Other Uses

There are many uses to which the fruit is put. The pulp is a popular ingredient for curries and preserves. Sometimes it is pressed, preserved and sold by weight in the bazaars. It also makes a good sherbert. Medicinally it is used as a laxative. The seeds, ground to powder and boiled to a paste with gum, make a strong cement; from them, too, is obtained a substitute for wheat or other flour, used by jungle people to make chapattis. The husks of the seeds have even been employed for road surfacing. It was also discovered that from the seeds could be made a cheap, efficient substitute for cereal starch which is used for sizing cotton yarn, jute fabrics and woollens.

Leaves and flowers, too, are useful as they are both edible and the leaves make a good poultice for boils; also an infusion from them makes a fine yellow dye which is used to give a green colour to silks previously dyed with indigo.

The wood is highly prized, though hard and difficult to work and it is unfortunate that the heart wood is so small. However it is widely used for making wheels, mallets, furniture, oil and sugar mills, etc.

Country people have a prejudice against sleeping under Tamarinds because they say the trees exude unhealthy vapors. This is no doubt correct to a degree as the cloth of tents pitched under Tamarinds in wet weather become discolored and rotten after a time; many plants will not grow beneath them but it is a mistake to suppose that this applies to all herbs and shrubs.

For more information, contact the Pampanga Agricultural College, Magalang, Pampanga, or visit their website at www.pac.edu.ph.

Bureau of Agricultural Research
Department of Agriculture
3/F RDMIC Bldg., Visayas Ave. cor. Elliptical Rd.,
Diliman, Quezon City 1104
Trunklines: (63-2) 928-8505 or 927-0226
Local Nos: 2043, 2042, 2044
Fax: (63-2) 920-8505 or 927-5691
Email: misd-acs@bar.gov.ph

source: www.bar.gov.ph, toptropicals.com

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 21st, 2007 at 1:36 pm and is filed under Plant & Crops. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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