Khejri Tree (Prosopis cineraria): Rajasthan's State Tree and How to Grow It in Jaipur
Prosopis cineraria
Khejri is Rajasthan's state tree: it stays green in the hottest months, enriches the soil and gives sangri and fodder. How to plant it in Jaipur, care for it in the first three years, and why it matters to the Bishnoi community.
Care in the first three years
Monsoon (July–September). Make a saucer-shaped basin. Because early growth is slow, weed two to three times in the first year; later, light weeding is enough.
Post-monsoon (October–November). Spread 5–8 cm of dry grass or leaf mulch. Water every 10–15 days in year one, every 2–3 weeks in year two, and only in long dry spells in year three.
Winter (December–February). Frost is rarely a problem. Watch for termites. From year two, light training pruning helps form a straight stem.
Spring (March–April). Water weekly in year one and every 10–14 days in year two. By year three it is mostly rain-fed.
Summer (May–June). The most critical time: water every 4–5 days in year one and every 7–10 days in year two. In year three, water only in a severe dry spell.
Pests. Browsing animals are the biggest risk. Also watch for stem and root borers, mealybugs and the parasitic climber dodder (Cuscuta), which you can pull off by hand. Do not lop the tree for fodder in its first three years.
Be patient
Khejri sends its roots deep first. Seedlings may reach only 1–2 m in four years, and protected plants take shape in about 4–5 years.
This article was prepared with AI assistance. Please check important details against the sources shown in each section.
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