Trees in Nepal

[jbmolineux]

I work in Pokhara, Nepal, where my organization (Tiny Hands International) is building a "Dream Center" where we are building 6 children's homes for orphan children, along with a school.

We want the Dream Center to be a beautiful place, and trees are a big part of it. Therefore, we really want to do all we can to (a) make the existing trees on our land as healthy as possible, and (b) plant trees that will grow to be lush and beautiful. Unfortunately I'm not an expert, and much of the information available on the web is location specific to the US, which has much different seasons that in Nepal. Further, its often difficult or impossible for us to get many of the products (tools, fertilizers, etc.) that are often recommended. So...I guess my questions are:

How, with what, and when should we fertilize the trees? We did bring some tree fertilizer spikes back from our last visit to the US, but generally we don't have access to this kind of thing. Should we use compost? Compost Tea fertilizer? Should we use a watering spike or something to get fertilizer down?

Should we do some sort of soil test, and if so, how? What are the most important things to test for, and what do we do, depending on the result?

Outside the monsoon season it is fairly dry. Should we set up drip irrigation (or something) to water the trees?

Thanks for any help anyone can give!

John

 

[beastmaster]

Hi John. I have always dreamed of going to Nepal, home of the Buddha. I have only seen pictures of Nepal and don't really have much knowledge of the flora. I would use trees that grow locally. Trees if well suited for an area don't need much care after established. I'm sorry I am so ignorant about your region.
If your interested in other more exotic or beautiful trees, research areas on the same latitudes and altitudes(how high up is Nepal?)around the globe.
I will do a little research my self. Any help I can give just ask and I would be more then willing to help. More info on specifically where your located in Nepal will be helpful.

 

[derwoodii]

Consider the Neem tree it has properties beyond its classic shade tree and robust features.

Azadirachta indica - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Neem is a fast-growing tree that can reach a height of 15–20 metres (49–66 ft), rarely to 35–40 metres (115–130 ft). It is evergreen, but in severe drought it may shed most or nearly all of its leaves. The branches are wide spread. The fairly dense crown is roundish or oval and may reach the diameter of 15–20 metres (49–66 ft) in old, free-standing specimens.
Uses

All parts of the tree are said to have medicinal properties (seeds, leaves, flowers and bark) and are used for preparing many different medical preparations. The chemical constituents nimbidin and nimbin have some spermicidal activity.
Neem oil is used for preparing cosmetics (soap, neem shampoo, balms and creams such as Margo soap) and many oral health products.
Besides its use in traditional Indian medicine, the neem tree is of great importance for its anti-desertification properties and possibly as a good carbon dioxide sink.[citation needed]
Practitioners of traditional Indian medicine recommend that patients with chicken pox sleep on neem leaves.
Neem gum is used as a bulking agent and for the preparation of special purpose food.
Traditionally, slender neem branches have been chewed to clean one's teeth. Neem twigs are still collected and sold in markets for this use, and in India one often sees youngsters in the streets chewing on neem twigs(for the neem twigs and branches have great dental effects).
Neem blossoms are used in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to prepare Ugadi pachhadi. "Bevina hoovina gojju" (a type of curry prepared with neem blossoms) is common in Karnataka throughout the year. Dried blossoms are used when fresh blossoms are not available. In Tamilnadu, a rasam (veppam poo rasam) made with neem blossoms is a culinary specialty.
A mixture of neem flowers and bella (jaggery or unrefined brown sugar) is prepared and offered to friends and relatives, symbolic of sweet and bitter events in the upcoming new year.
Extract of neem leaves is thought to be helpful as malaria prophylaxis despite the fact that no comprehensive clinical studies are yet available. In several cases, private initiatives in Senegal were successful in preventing malaria.[3] However, major NGOs and other organizations such as USAID are not supposed to use neem tree extracts unless the medical benefit has been proved with clinical studies.
[edit]Medicinal Use
In India, the plant is variously known as "Sacred Tree," "Heal All," "Nature's Drugstore," "Village Pharmacy" and "Panacea for all diseases". Products made from neem trees have been used in India for over two millennia for their medicinal properties: neem products are believed to be anthelmintic, antifungal, antidiabetic, antibacterial, antiviral, contraceptive and sedative.[4][unreliable source?] Neem products are also used in selectively controlling pests in plants. It is considered a major component in Ayurvedic and Unani medicine and is particularly prescribed for skin disease.[5]
[edit]Pest and disease control
Neem is a key ingredient in non-pesticidal management (NPM), providing a natural alternative to synthetic pesticides. Neem seeds are ground into a powder that is soaked overnight in water and sprayed onto the crop. To be effective, it is necessary to apply repeatedly, at least every ten days. Neem does not directly kill insects on the crop. It acts as an anti-feedant, repellent, and egg-laying deterrent, protecting the crop from damage. The insects starve and die within a few days. Neem also suppresses the hatching of pest insects from their eggs. Neem cake is often sold as a fertilizer.[6]

Given the trees attributes and your climate it should not need to much TLC to get established so you can save your energy & effort for the kids.

I say this from a far, so good luck with your project.

Weather and Climate: Pokhara, Nepal, average monthly Rainfall, Sunshine, Temperature (celsius)

 

[sgreanbeans]

A soil test is never a bad thing. You can buy kits online, some are very basic and only do PH, however you can get a full kit that test everything for about 600 bucks. When you ID your existing trees, find their traits, desired moisture, PH, etc. With the traits identified and a soil test (kit will have instructions) you should be able to come up with a fertilizer and water plan/schedule,only if needed. If everything is good, let things be. I would imagine that there is a Certified Arborist over there...........somewhere! Go to the ISA site and try to locate one, that would be your best bet. I wouldn't bring fert over, and bet they wont let you. I am sure you can get it there, contact a farmer, he will know the soil better than anybody, and where and what they use. Like the other guys said, you are WAY outside of our box. Have no idea of your area, thats why, if you could find a CA, you would be better off.

Not sure what the deal is with all the guys from other country's popping up latley, but I like it! PICS PLEASE!
I know a girl from the Marines, her dad works there, shoots artillery shells into the mountains to drop avalanches, cool job!