Mangium Teak information

[phanidhar]

Hi,

I am hearing lot about Mangium teak and its incomes and how fast it grows, I just want to understand how far it is correct in real world, I want an expert view from agriculture.com experts team or from any one who has already planted trees and satisfied with the results, but I do not want the same old story from any sales person

I want to see the site where it is planted and understand the things myself then able to decide

Dear experts can you please help me on above request?

I am from Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.

Thanks,

Phanidhar Rao

 

[okaruveli]

Mangium tree.

Dear Phanidhar,
Mangium teak is a misnomer. The botanical name of the tree is Acacia mangium, and it is totally unrelated to teak. It is regarded as a semi hardwood,and it grows fast,but lacks the fine grains of real teak. The timber is unsuitable for bearing load as it bends easily.It is usually sawn into boards and used for panelling work.There was a lot of hype about this tree in the mid eighties in Kerala,and carried away by that I had planted about a dozen seedlings in our farm. They were there until 1996 , when we sold the land.The growth was impressive,especially in the early years,but after about ten years we felt that the trees were not gaining in girth. Wind also used to do a lot of damage, often breaking off entire trees into half. A few trees planted in late nineties,are there in my brothers farm in Udupi, Karnataka .

There may still be old trees at the Catholic Archbishops House,Pattom, Trivandrum, Kerala,as the former bishop the late Dr Benedict Mar Gregoriose was instrumental in popularising it in Kerala.

Ouseph Karuveli