Pruning Effects on the Health of Indian Sandalwood (Santalum album Linn) in Agroforestry Conditions of South India

Surveys in south India revealed that Santalum album Linn. is commonly grown with forest trees and horticultural and agricultural crops. As a silvicultural practices in cultivation of S. album though pruning is not recommended many farmers follow the practice of regular pruning there by adversely affecting the health of trees. Severely pruned trees were found losing their erectness and bending indicating that pruning causes change, disorder and affect many physiological functions resulting in deterioration of overall tree health. The wounds caused by pruning sever tissue connections and enhances the infection of decay fungi. It attracts the infestation of insect pests particularly the stem and wood borers. The incidence of bark caterpillar Indarbela quardinotata Walker, red stems borer Zeuzera coffeae Nietn. and heart wood borer Aristobia octofasciculata Aurivillius was found significantly higher in pruned plantations compared un-pruned plantations. The heartwood loss ranging from 22.6 to 34.5% was observed during extraction and this loss might be attributed due to the adverse effect of pruning and other mechanical injuries inducing infection of decay fungi and infestation of stem borers in young plantations of S. album. Hence, to avoid not only the pruning but also any silvicultural practices that cause injury to sandalwood are recommended for its healthy growth and thereby to obtain desirable returns