Calophyllum Inophyllum

Calophyllum is a tree-borne oil seed species. Its carpel contains about 50% oil. The oil is used as biodiesel, as medicine for skin diseases, and for soap making. When used as medicated pure oil it fetches very high market price. Its oil cake is used as manure. It is used as a wind barrier on the sea shores. It is planted as shade trees on the road sides and also as an ornamental tree. Suitable for intercropping with the coconut. The tree is ready for yield after 6 years.

Cultivation method

Soil type: Suitable for sandy soil. It can grow well on clayey, lime and gravelly soil.

Spacing: 4 m x 4 m

Pit size: 2 cubic feet

Irrigation: It is required 3 - 4 times per month for two years. Drip irrigation is suitable.

Manuring: After 3 months of planting, 250 g (¼ Kg) of Neem cake or 500 g (½ Kg) of Farm Yard Manure per plant need to be applied.

Weed removal: Once in every 6 months, weeds need to be removed. After 2 years, the branch must be pruned. As a result, the yield will be increased.

Oil: Kernels are dried under shade for a week (to attain 5% moisture content) and then oil is extracted using expeller or oil ghani.

Cultivation cost (per acre): Rs 35,000/- for the first year, and Rs 5,000/- per year for the next five years.

Yield: A 10-year-old tree produces approximately 12 kg of fruits. From this, 3 kg of kernel can be obtained. 2.1 liters of oil per tree can be extracted.

Planting can be carried out at a spacing of 4m x 4m. At this spacing about 35 trees can be grown on a 0.25-acre plot. From this plantation, 75 liters of Calophyllum oil can be extracted. At 4-5 years, clones start fruiting..

Fruit yield from a Calophyllum tree

4-5 years old tree : 4 to 6 kg

10 years old tree : 10 to 60 kg

20 years old tree : 50 to 150 kg

Comparison of Diesel and crude Calophyllum oil

Diesel	Calophyllum Oil
Cost of diesel in 2021 is Rs. 92/- per litre	Cost of processing fruit to extract 600 ml. Calophyllum oil is Rs 35/-
To operate a 5hp motor pump for one hour, 900 ml diesel costing Rs. 83 is required	To operate a 5hp motor pump for one hour, 600 ml Calophyllum oil is required
Annual requirement (75 L diesel) amounts to (Rs.92x75) =Rs. 6900/-	Annual requirement (75 L Calophyllum oil) amounts to (Rs.35x75) =Rs. 2625/-.

Courtesy: C.Rajasekaran, Farmer, Kilvelur

Seed handling techniques

Seed collection: July to August and December months Seed treatment: Removal of leathery fruit coat helps to improve germination 20 times higher, which is 95–100%. Seedling production: Seeds are sown at a depth of 1 cm in polythene bags of size 13 cm x 25 cm, filled with 2:1:1 ratio of red earth, sand and farmyard manure. Irrigation is required twice a day. The seedlings need to be kept under shade and after hardening for 10 days under sun the seedlings can be planted in the field. Seed drying: Drying for long time affects seeds viability and hence drying to a safe moisture level under shade is recommended.

Seed storage: Seeds devoid of the coat should be placed in an earthen pot and covered with a cotton cloth. The pot is placed in a bucket filled with wet sand. This helps to maintain the seed moisture content at an optimum level and prolongs the viability to 4-6 months with germination capacity of 95%.

Oil extraction: About 1-1.5 L Calophyllum oil can be extracted from 15 kg of dry kernel. For this sugar molasses need to be added to the kernel during oil extraction at an oil mill or ghani. Calophyllum oil cake serves as good manure. Crude Calophyllum oil market price: Rs. 300/- per litre. 1 kg oil cake price: Rs. 40/- 1 kg kernel price: Rs. 30/-