Neem is a tree native to India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh that grows in tropical and semi-tropical regions. It has opposite pinnate leaves with 20-31 leaflets and white, fragrant flowers arranged in branching inflorescences. The fruit is a staminal drupe that is 12-18 mm long and yellowish-green. Neem has many uses for its timber, leaves, flowers, fruits, and bark. Tree improvement aims to produce desired quality timber in maximum amounts in the shortest period of time at a reasonable cost through selection, testing, evaluation to identify improved sources, and production of improved seeds and cuttings for routine use.

1. For Commercial Planting….

2. INTRODUCTION TO NEEM…..

3. What is Neem ?
Azadirachta indica
• A tree in the mahogany family Meliaceae.
• One of two species in the genus Azadirachta.
• Native to India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
and Bangladesh growing in tropical and semi-tropical
regions.

4. Leaves….
• Opposite.
• Pinnate leaves 20–40 cm long.
• 20 to 31 medium to dark green leaflets.
• About 3–8 cm long.
• The terminal leaflet is often missing.
• The petioles are short.

5. Flowers….
• The (white and fragrant) flowers are
arranged axillary
• The inflorescences, which branch up to the
third degree, bear from 150 to 250 flowers.
• An individual flower is 5–6 mm long and 8–
11 mm wide.
• Bisexual flowers

6. Fruit…..
• The fruit is a the staminal drupe
• 12-18 mm long
• ovoid-oblong
• yellowish-green smooth

7. Uses of Neem
• Timber
• Fresh leaves
• Dried leaves
• Flowers
• Fruits
• Bark

8. What is Tree Improvement ?
• An additional tool of
Silviculture which deals with the
kind and genetic makeup of
trees used in forest operations.

9. Objectives
Production of desired quality
timber in maximum amounts in
the shortest period of time
at a reasonable cost

10. Site selection
Factor Circumstances
Frost sensitive, especially seedlings.
Temperature
Shade temperature - 30-35ºC in Sri Lanka;
400-1200 mm/yr.
Rainfall 130 mm/yr to survive, but 450 mm/yr to grow
well.
0-800 Mean annual sea level.; occasionally to
Altitude
1000 m.
Soil Type Well drained, deep sandy soils.
Soil pH 6.2-7.0, but 5.9-10.0 tolerated
Needs sunlight for productivity.
Light
Seedlings need some protection from sun.

12. Tree Improvement process….

13. Production line seed for operational planting
Wild stands and plantations
Pick the very best 30-40 trees.
First generation seed orchard
Progeny test
Roughed first generation seed orchard
Intensive selection
Improved first generation seed orchard
Progeny test
Second generation seed orchard

14. SELECTION AND TESTING
Identifying genetic variation.
• SELECTION
• TESTING
• EVALUATION

15. IMPROVEMENT OF SEED SOURCES.
• The results from selection, testing and
evaluation will enable improved
sources to be identified and
established.
• These will be the "machines" of the
improvement program, by which
improved seeds or cuttings can be
produced for routine use.

16. PRODUCTION OF IMPROVED SEEDS AND
CUTTINGS
Possible gains.
• actual mass production of seeds or
cuttings, in sufficient quantities

18. Thank you