Introductory Agroforestry (1+1)

DALBERGIA SISSOO

Scientific Name : Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.
Common Name : Shisham, Sissu
Family : Leguminosae
Sub Family : Papilionoideae

Plate 15.1(a). Delbergia sissoo Roxb. tree

Plate 15.1(b). Shisham bark & leaf pattern

Description:

• It is a large deciduous tree with light crown having thick, rough, grey bark with shallow broad longitudinal fissures exfoliating in irregular woody strips and scales.
• It attains a height up to 30 m and a girth of 2.4 m.

Distribution:

• The spp. occurs throughout the sub-Himalayan tract and outer Himalayan valleys from the Indus to Assam; usually upto 900 m, but occasionally ascending upto 1500 m.
• Grow gregariously on alluvial soil along stream bank, beds and islands, and on freshly exposed soil along roads and landscapes along with Khair.

Climate
It grows from tropical to sub tropical climate.

• Temperature - Maximum 40°C to 50°C, Minimum 4°C
• Rainfall - 760 mm to 4600 mm
• Altitude - Upto 1500 m.

Phenology

• Leaf-fall - November to December
• Leaf renewal - January-February
• Flowering - March/April
• Fruiting - May – July
• Fruit ripe - November-December
• Seed collection - November-December
• Seed viability - 12 - 18 months.
• Seed weight - 530 / gm.
• Germination - 80 per cent.

Silvicultural characters

• Delbergia sissoo is a strong light demander
• It is very frost and drought hardy spp.
• It is wind firm in nature and sensitive to fire and browsing