Sandalwood Growers’ Guide

Here’s a comprehensive Sandalwood Growers’ Guide tailored for Philippine agroforestry operations, integrating COPI propagation protocols, host management, and SC-CO₂ oil production. This can serve as a trainer-friendly manual or operational guide.

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1 — Overview

  • Scientific name: Santalum album (Indian Sandalwood), Santalum spicatum (Australian Sandalwood)
  • Family: Santalaceae
  • Origin: India, Southeast Asia, Australia
  • Uses: Heartwood, SC-CO₂ essential oil, powder, perfumery, cosmetics, aromatherapy
  • Economic importance: High-value, long-term luxury crop; suitable for integrated agroforestry with Nutmeg, Agarwood, or legumes

2 — Climate & Soil Requirements

ParameterRequirement
Temperature25–35°C optimal
Rainfall500–1,200 mm/year; well-drained soils
Soil typeSandy to loamy; pH 6–7.5; avoid waterlogged conditions
AltitudeSea level to 1,000 m
LightSemi-shade for seedlings; partial shade under host trees

Note: Sandalwood is semi-parasitic; host trees improve survival and growth.

3 — Propagation

3.1 Seed Propagation

  • Use mature, brown seeds; remove pulp
  • Soak 24–48 hrs in water to break dormancy
  • Germination: 4–12 weeks under 25–30°C, light shade
  • Optional: GA₃ 500 ppm pre-treatment to improve germination

3.2 Vegetative / Clonal Propagation

  • Air layering: moderate success
  • Stem cuttings: enhanced with auxins
  • Tissue culture (COPI R&D): elite chemotypes, higher success and uniformity

4 — Nursery Management

  • Medium: Sand:loam:compost (1:1:1)
  • Containers: 500 ml–2 L polybags
  • Watering: Keep moderate moisture; avoid waterlogging
  • Fertilization: Balanced NPK + organic matter; avoid excess nitrogen
  • Host integration: Plant seedlings near host roots (legumes, Nutmeg, Agarwood)

5 — Field Planting

  • Spacing: 4–5 m × 4–5 m (400–625 trees/ha)
  • Agroforestry integration:
    • Mid-layer or understory in Nutmeg or Agarwood plantations
    • Host trees critical in early years for root attachment
  • Inter-row paths: 2–3 m for maintenance and harvesting

6 — Care & Maintenance

  • Irrigation: Frequent watering for young trees; mature trees drought-tolerant
  • Fertilization: Light NPK + compost; host trees provide nutrients through parasitic roots
  • Weeding: Manual or mulching; avoid herbicide damage to Sandalwood roots
  • Pruning: Minimal; remove crossing branches, maintain straight bole

7 — Host Management

  • Preferred hosts: Nitrogen-fixing species (Erythrina, Sesbania), Nutmeg, Agarwood
  • Host planting: Plant 0.5–1 m from Sandalwood seedlings
  • Benefits: Improved growth, drought tolerance, better heartwood quality

8 — Pest & Disease Management

  • Common pests: Scale insects, stem borers
  • Diseases: Root rot, fungal leaf infections
  • Management:
    • Integrated pest management (IPM)
    • Maintain soil drainage
    • Prune infected parts
    • Ensure healthy host tree interaction

9 — Flowering & Fruit

  • Flowering: 6–8 yrs (seed-grown), 4–5 yrs (clonal)
  • Flowers: Small, fragrant, pale yellow or white
  • Fruit: Small drupes; bird-dispersed
  • Seed collection: Mature drupes for propagation

10 — Harvesting

  • Timber / Heartwood: 15–20 yrs for commercial harvest
  • Essential Oil: 2–5% of dry heartwood via SC-CO₂ extraction
  • Postharvest:
    • Chip or powder wood
    • Store in dry, airtight containers before extraction
    • SC-CO₂ oil fractionation enhances perfume quality

11 — Yield Estimates

ParameterYield per ha
Trees400–625
Heartwood30–50 kg/tree (mature)
SC-CO₂ oil2–5% of heartwood weight
ROI timeline15–20 yrs; accelerated with intercropping Nutmeg/Agarwood

12 — Agroforestry Integration Options

  • Nutmeg + Sandalwood: Nutmeg provides canopy, partial shade; Sandalwood gains host support
  • Agarwood + Sandalwood: Multi-layered canopy; Agarwood mid-layer supports understory Sandalwood
  • Legume + Sandalwood: Nitrogen fixation enhances soil fertility and growth
  • Benefits: Biodiversity, improved soil health, risk mitigation, staggered revenue

13 — SC-CO₂ Oil Processing

  • Purpose: High-value essential oil for perfumery and aromatherapy
  • Yield: 2–5% of heartwood
  • Advantages: Preserves aroma integrity; fractionation enables top, middle, base note separation
  • Integration: CESI SC-CO₂ extraction; supply for ANOC / Ethereal Scent perfumes

14 — Sustainability & Certification

  • CITES: Ensure legal propagation and harvest permits
  • DENR & LGU: Comply with environmental regulations
  • Organic & traceable: Record propagation, host trees, and harvest for sustainable branding
  • Agroforestry benefits: Carbon sequestration, habitat conservation, soil stabilization

15 — Recommended Resources

  • COPI tissue culture protocols for elite chemotypes
  • CESI SC-CO₂ extraction manuals for perfumery-grade oils
  • Agroforestry management guides for multi-strata plantations

This Sandalwood Growers’ Guide is designed to be farmer-friendly and scalable, supporting medium-term and long-term revenue via timber, essential oil, and integrated agroforestry.

I can also create a visual Sandalwood + Agarwood + Nutmeg agroforestry layout with timelines, yields, and revenue projection, similar to the Nutmeg + Agarwood model, ready for operational planning or investor presentation.

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