Tissue Culture White Sandalwood
Santalum album, commonly known as White Sandalwood, is a valuable tropical tree highly prized for its fragrant heartwood and essential oil. Native to the Indian subcontinent, sandalwood has been revered for centuries for use in religious rituals, perfumes, cosmetics, and medicine. White sandalwood is a slow-growing evergreen tree that can thrive in arid and semi-arid regions, making it suitable for cultivation in several parts of India. With high demand and limited supply, sandalwood farming offers significant commercial potential.
Values & Uses
- Heartwood : Source of sandalwood oil (used in perfumes, incense, cosmetics)
- Medicinal : Used in Ayurvedic and Unani medicine
- Cultural/Religious : Widely used in rituals and temple offerings High Market Demand: Sandal Hard wood market price around ₹6,500 to ₹10,000 per kg.
Environment, Practices & Procedures General Environment & Climate
- Soil: Prefers well-drained red sandy loam, slightly alkaline to neutral (pH 6.5–
7.5) - Climate: Tissue culture plants can survive in all types of climatic conditions.
- Rainfall: Requires 600–1600 mm annual rainfall
- Elevation: Grows well up to 1800 meters above sea level
Planting Practices
- Host Plants: Sandalwood is a hemiparasite—needs host plants
like Cassia siamea, Pongamia, or Neem to derive nutrients - Spacing: 10′ x 10′ square system is ideal (~400 plants per acre)
- Irrigation: Light irrigation is needed during early stages, but the plant becomes drought-tolerant over time
- Pruning: Helps maintain shape and remove dead branches
- Weeding & Mulching: Crucial during first 2–3 years for better root
development
Planting & Profitability Planting Method
- Best Season : June–August (monsoon season)
- Pit Preparation : 45 x 45 x 45 cm pits, filled with compost + sand + neem cake
- Host Plant Integration : 2–3 host plants per sandalwood tree
- Planting Care : Avoid waterlogging, ensure host plants are planted
simultaneously.