Talk:Calliandra calothyrsus

Listuder (talk) 20:34, 27 November 2014 (UTC)listuder

Soil requirements
Calliandra calothyrsus is adapted to different types of soils. The best growing conditions are on light textured, slightly acidic soils but it is also well adapted to acidic soils with poor soil fertility and is able to grow on infertile and compacted soils.

Seed Production
The seed production is during the dry season from June to September. After collecting, drying and storing of the seeds they can germinate without treatment, but a quicker germination is achieved by soaking the seeds in cold water for 48 hours. The seeds could be stored for 1-2 years. but since calliandra calothyrsus sets fruits continuously there is no need to store.

Nursery Practices
Otherwise seedlings can be produced by sowing seeds in a nursery bed and allowing them to grow until they are 20 to 50 cm high with a root collar diameter of 0.5 to 1.0 cm. At this stage they can be replanted. Another method is to produce stumps. In this case the seedlings can grow for four months until they reach a height of 75 to 100 cm subsequently they are top- and root-pruned to about 30 to 20 cm. Stumps are very useful for interplanting among other trees or for a better establishment on steep slopes.

Cultivation
Plantation of Calliandra calothyrsus can be either done by direct seeding or by seedlings. For direct seeding the rows should be free of weeds and the ground should be roughly cultivated. The seeds should be sown at 1 to 3 cm depth. In case of planting seedlings the complete area or at least strips or spots have to be cleared. Plantation of seedlings is done at the beginning of the rainy season and an initial treatment of fertilizer can have a positive effect on the seedlings. The early growth is slow but after the mycorrhizal infection the plant grows up to 3.5m in 6 months. Because of the slow early growth weeding is necessary in the first year but afterwards the canopy closes and weed is no longer problematic. Within the first year calliandra flowers and bear fruits and after 12 months the plants can be 3 to 5 m tall and 5 cm in diameter at stump height. At this stage the plant has the optimal size for the use of firewood. Harvesting is done at the end of the dry season and for a faster resprounting the cutting is done 20 to 50 cm above the ground.