皂(zao)角樹原產中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)(guo)長江(jiang)流域,分布極廣(guang)(guang),自中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)(guo)北部(bu)至(zhi)南部(bu)及西(xi)(xi)南均有分布。適宜(yi)栽種的地(di)區為:山(shan)西(xi)(xi)、山(shan)東、河(he)南、甘肅、河(he)北、內蒙古(gu)、江(jiang)蘇、湖北、湖南、廣(guang)(guang)東、廣(guang)(guang)西(xi)(xi)、四(si)川、安徽、浙江(jiang)、貴州、陜西(xi)(xi)、江(jiang)西(xi)(xi)、云南及東北三(san)省等地(di)區。
皂角樹(shu)是落葉喬木,樹(shu)高可達15~20米(mi)(mi),樹(shu)冠可達15米(mi)(mi),棘刺(ci)(ci)粗壯,紅(hong)褐色(se)(se),常分(fen)(fen)枝,雙(shuang)數羽(yu)狀(zhuang)(zhuang)復(fu)葉,小葉4~7對,小葉片為(wei)卵形(xing)(xing)(xing),卵狀(zhuang)(zhuang)披(pi)針(zhen)形(xing)(xing)(xing)或(huo)(huo)長(chang)橢圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)狀(zhuang)(zhuang)卵形(xing)(xing)(xing),長(chang)3~8厘米(mi)(mi),寬1~3.5厘米(mi)(mi),先端(duan)鈍,有(you)時凸,基部(bu)斜圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)或(huo)(huo)楔形(xing)(xing)(xing),邊緣(yuan)有(you)細(xi)鋸(ju)齒。花(hua)(hua)(hua)雜性(xing),成腋生(sheng)及頂生(sheng)總(zong)狀(zhuang)(zhuang)花(hua)(hua)(hua)序,花(hua)(hua)(hua)部(bu)均(jun)有(you)細(xi)柔毛,花(hua)(hua)(hua)萼鐘形(xing)(xing)(xing),裂(lie)片4,卵狀(zhuang)(zhuang)披(pi)針(zhen)形(xing)(xing)(xing),花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣4,淡黃(huang)白(bai)色(se)(se),卵形(xing)(xing)(xing)或(huo)(huo)長(chang)橢圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing),雄蕊8,4長(chang)4短,子房條形(xing)(xing)(xing),扁(bian)平,莢角直而扁(bian)平,有(you)光(guang)澤,黑紫(zi)色(se)(se),被白(bai)色(se)(se)粉,長(chang)12~30厘米(mi)(mi),種子多數扁(bian)平,長(chang)橢圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing),長(chang)約10毫(hao)米(mi)(mi),紅(hong)袍(pao)色(se)(se)有(you)光(guang)澤。棘刺(ci)(ci)多數分(fen)(fen)枝,主(zhu)刺(ci)(ci)圓(yuan)柱形(xing)(xing)(xing),長(chang)5~15厘米(mi)(mi),基部(bu)粗約8~12毫(hao)米(mi)(mi),末端(duan)尖銳(rui),分(fen)(fen)枝刺(ci)(ci)一般(ban)長(chang)1.5~7厘米(mi)(mi),有(you)時再分(fen)(fen)歧成小刺(ci)(ci),表面棕紫(zi)色(se)(se),尖部(bu)紅(hong)棕色(se)(se),光(guang)滑或(huo)(huo)有(you)細(xi)皺紋(wen),質(zhi)堅硬難(nan)折(zhe)斷,木質(zhi)部(bu)黃(huang)白(bai)色(se)(se),中心為(wei)淡灰棕色(se)(se),而疏松的(de)髓部(bu),無(wu)臭,味(wei)淡。每年(nian)的(de)5月份(fen)(fen)開花(hua)(hua)(hua),10月份(fen)(fen)果實成熟,棘刺(ci)(ci)長(chang)成。
多生(sheng)于平原、山谷(gu)及丘陵(ling)地區。但在溫暖(nuan)地區可分(fen)布(bu)在海拔(ba)1600米處(chu)。性(xing)喜(xi)光而稍(shao)耐蔭,喜(xi)溫暖(nuan)濕潤氣候及深(shen)厚肥沃適當濕潤土(tu)壤(rang),但對(dui)土(tu)壤(rang)要(yao)求不嚴,在石灰質(zhi)及鹽(yan)堿甚至粘土(tu)或砂土(tu)均能(neng)正常生(sheng)長(chang)。皂(zao)莢的(de)生(sheng)長(chang)速度慢但壽命很(hen)長(chang),可達六七(qi)百(bai)年(nian)。屬于深(shen)根性(xing)樹種。需要(yao)6-8年(nian)的(de)營養(yang)生(sheng)長(chang)才能(neng)開(kai)花結果。但是其結實期(qi)可長(chang)達數百(bai)年(nian)。
選(xuan)擇(ze)樹(shu)干(gan)通直,生長較快,發(fa)育良好,種子飽(bao)滿的30-100年生盛(sheng)果期的壯齡母樹(shu),于(yu)10月中下旬采種。采收的果實要攤開曝曬,干(gan)后將莢(jia)果砸或碾碎,去果皮,風(feng)選(xuan),即得凈種,種子陰干(gan)后裝(zhuang)袋干(gan)藏(zang)。
皂(zao)(zao)(zao)角樹(shu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)皮(pi)較(jiao)厚,發芽(ya)(ya)慢且不整(zheng)齊,播(bo)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)前,須進行催(cui)芽(ya)(ya)處(chu)(chu)理(li)。paramjeel認(ren)為(wei)皂(zao)(zao)(zao)角樹(shu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子采用濃硫(liu)酸溶液處(chu)(chu)理(li)15h發芽(ya)(ya)率(lv)會提高(gao)。美國密西西比等地對(dui)皂(zao)(zao)(zao)角樹(shu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子進行20種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)方法處(chu)(chu)理(li),認(ren)為(wei)用熱(re)水(shui)(shui)浸泡(pao)或熱(re)/冷水(shui)(shui)交替(ti)浸泡(pao)能處(chu)(chu)理(li)較(jiao)多(duo)數量(liang)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子,但(dan)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子發芽(ya)(ya)率(lv)低(di);對(dui)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子采用側面或端面刻痕(hen)和加(jia)熱(re)針在種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)衣上劃(hua)一個(ge)孔(燒傷)能獲(huo)得最好(hao)效果。也有(you)報道認(ren)為(wei),用波長632.8mm功率(lv)25mw激(ji)光(guang)處(chu)(chu)理(li)皂(zao)(zao)(zao)角樹(shu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子和穗條,能不同程度地提高(gao)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子發芽(ya)(ya)率(lv)與(yu)穗條生根率(lv)。另外,采用1:4-5堿水(shui)(shui)48h浸泡(pao),再用清水(shui)(shui)泡(pao)24h,發芽(ya)(ya)率(lv)可(ke)達(da)80%-92%。也可(ke)在秋末冬初,將凈選的種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子放人水(shui)(shui)中,待(dai)其(qi)充分吸水(shui)(shui)后(hou),撈(lao)出混(hun)合濕(shi)沙(sha)貯藏催(cui)芽(ya)(ya),次春種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子裂(lie)嘴后(hou),進行播(bo)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。
育(yu)苗地(di)應選擇土壤(rang)(rang)肥沃(wo),灌溉方便的(de)地(di)方,進(jin)行(xing)(xing)細致(zhi)整地(di),每(mei)667平方米,施有機肥3000~5000kg,筑成(cheng)平床或高(gao)(gao)床。采用條播,條距20~25cm,每(mei)米長播種(zhong)溝(gou)播種(zhong)10-15粒,播后覆(fu)土3-4cm厚,并經常保持土壤(rang)(rang)濕(shi)潤。苗高(gao)(gao)10cm左右時,間苗、定苗,株(zhu)距10-15cm,當年苗高(gao)(gao)可達50~100cm。若(ruo)培(pei)育(yu)2年生大(da)苗,于秋末(mo)苗木(mu)落葉后,按(an)0.5m×0.5m的(de)行(xing)(xing)株(zhu)距進(jin)行(xing)(xing)換(huan)床移植。
皂(zao)角(jiao)樹人工造(zao)(zao)(zao)林采用直播造(zao)(zao)(zao)林、植苗造(zao)(zao)(zao)林、根蘗(bo)分株(zhu)造(zao)(zao)(zao)林等方式進行。對每(mei)公(gong)頃達不到(dao)9000株(zhu)(叢(cong))的林地要進行補植補造(zao)(zao)(zao)或新造(zao)(zao)(zao)。
直播(bo)(bo)造林(lin)可(ke)在春季土壤墑(di)情較好或(huo)雨季降過透雨后直播(bo)(bo)造林(lin),可(ke)采用穴播(bo)(bo)或(huo)撒(sa)播(bo)(bo)兩種(zhong)方(fang)式:穴播(bo)(bo)每公頃9000-12000穴,穴的規格(ge)為25cm×25cm,每穴點播(bo)(bo)8-10粒種(zhong)子,覆土厚2-3cm,播(bo)(bo)種(zhong)量225-337.5kg/h平方(fang)米,一般10d左右(you)即可(ke)出土;巖石裸露(lu)和人工(gong)不(bu)易進行穴播(bo)(bo)的地段可(ke)采用撒(sa)播(bo)(bo),播(bo)(bo)種(zhong)量450-675kg/h平方(fang)米。
植(zhi)苗(miao)造林(lin)春秋兩季均可造林(lin),以秋冬季造林(lin)為(wei)好(hao)。造林(lin)前(qian)一般要進行(xing)(xing)小(xiao)穴(xue)整地,穴(xue)規格(ge)為(wei)30cm×30cm×20cm,株行(xing)(xing)距1.0m×1.0-1.5m。栽(zai)植(zhi)時要深栽(zai)踩實不露根。雨季雨量(liang)較多(duo)時,也可利用當年苗(miao)進行(xing)(xing)雨季造林(lin),要求苗(miao)高(gao)20cm以上。半(ban)木(mu)質化小(xiao)苗(miao)上山造林(lin),效果(guo)也很好(hao)。植(zhi)苗(miao)造林(lin)主要用于缺株補植(zhi)。
根(gen)蘗(bo)分株造(zao)林根(gen)蘗(bo)分株造(zao)林在早(zao)春發芽前或秋季落葉后進行,土(tu)壤水(shui)分充足的(de)地方可邊分株邊造(zao)林。栽(zai)植時剪去地上部分,只(zhi)栽(zai)根(gen)部,栽(zai)植穴(xue)的(de)大小(xiao)要與根(gen)系的(de)大小(xiao)相(xiang)適宜,培土(tu)要踩(cai)實,以保墑保成活。
火燒(shao)(shao)跡(ji)地(di)(di)更新(xin)造(zao)(zao)林(lin)對因冬春季野外用(yong)火管(guan)理不(bu)嚴造(zao)(zao)成(cheng)皂角樹天然林(lin)被(bei)燒(shao)(shao)損的火燒(shao)(shao)跡(ji)地(di)(di),可利用(yong)其生長特性,進(jin)行跡(ji)地(di)(di)更新(xin)。方法是將(jiang)地(di)(di)上燒(shao)(shao)傷(shang)植株(zhu)從基部(bu)伐除(chu),促進(jin)其萌蘗生出(chu)新(xin)植株(zhu)。此方法簡便易行,成(cheng)林(lin)快,效果明顯。