INTER-SITE VARIATION STUDIES ON KATHA CONTENT IN ACACIA CATECHU WILLD. (KHAIR)

摘要

Acacia catechu Willd. (Khair) is one of the commercial timbers of India and Myanmar. Katha extracted from its heartwood has masticatory use in pan with lime which imparts red colour. Khair is found on flat or gently undulating ground and ravine country as well as in hilly region but seldom extends in areas above 1,200 m amsl. It is frequently found on arid, shallow, stony soil, poor shallow soils composed of murrain or kankar and poor hard soil composed largely of calcareous nodules. Keeping in viewthe wide distribution of the species, it is important to know the variation in katha content with nutrient status and aspect of the site.