(Agarwood – Resin-Producing Tropical Evergreen)
🔬 Biological Consideration
Agarwood is non-parasitic and does not require host plants. Nursery focus is on:
- Strong vertical growth
- Healthy fibrous root system
- Uniform clonal batches
1️⃣ Stage 1 – Acclimatization (0–4 Weeks)
Environment:
- 50–70% shade
- High humidity (initially 80%)
- Temperature: 25–34°C
Media:
- 40% cocopeat
- 30% compost
- 20% sand
- 10% biochar
Management:
- Daily mist irrigation
- Fungicide drench (prevent damping-off)
- Strong drainage
2️⃣ Stage 2 – Primary Nursery (1–3 Months)
Conditions:
- 50% shade
- Moderate irrigation
Fertilization:
- Balanced NPK (14-14-14 or equivalent)
- Micronutrient supplement
- Seaweed extract biostimulant
Goal:
- Rapid leaf expansion
- Root mass development
- Uniform height growth
3️⃣ Stage 3 – Secondary Nursery (3–6 Months)
Gradual Full Sun Exposure
- Reduce shade to 20–30%
- Wind conditioning
- Height standardization
Optional:
- Silicon supplementation (strengthens stem)
- Early stress conditioning (improves field resilience)
Field-Ready Height: 40–80 cm
Target Survival: ≥ 90%
📊 Key Differences
| Factor | Sandalwood | Agarwood |
|---|---|---|
| Host Requirement | Yes | No |
| Shade Requirement | Moderate | Moderate |
| Root Sensitivity | Very high | Moderate |
| Waterlogging Tolerance | Very low | Low |
| Nursery Duration | 6–8 months | 4–6 months |
💼 Nursery Economics Insight
Proper species-specific management can:
- Increase survival from 75% → 92%+
- Reduce field mortality by 15–25%
- Shorten time-to-heartwood
- Improve plantation IRR
🏷 Professional Conclusion
Species-specific nursery protocols are essential because:
“Elite genetics without species-adapted nursery systems results in suboptimal plantation performance.”