皂角(jiao)樹原產中國長江流域,分布極廣,自中國北(bei)部(bu)至(zhi)南(nan)部(bu)及西(xi)南(nan)均有分布。適宜(yi)栽種的地區(qu)為:山西(xi)、山東(dong)、河(he)(he)南(nan)、甘肅、河(he)(he)北(bei)、內蒙古、江蘇、湖(hu)北(bei)、湖(hu)南(nan)、廣東(dong)、廣西(xi)、四(si)川、安徽、浙(zhe)江、貴州、陜西(xi)、江西(xi)、云南(nan)及東(dong)北(bei)三省等(deng)地區(qu)。
皂角樹是落葉喬(qiao)木,樹高可達15~20米(mi)(mi),樹冠(guan)可達15米(mi)(mi),棘刺(ci)粗壯,紅(hong)褐色,常分枝(zhi),雙(shuang)數(shu)(shu)羽狀(zhuang)復葉,小(xiao)(xiao)葉4~7對(dui),小(xiao)(xiao)葉片(pian)為卵(luan)(luan)形(xing),卵(luan)(luan)狀(zhuang)披(pi)針形(xing)或長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)橢圓(yuan)形(xing)狀(zhuang)卵(luan)(luan)形(xing),長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)3~8厘(li)米(mi)(mi),寬1~3.5厘(li)米(mi)(mi),先端(duan)鈍(dun),有(you)時(shi)凸,基(ji)部(bu)斜圓(yuan)形(xing)或楔形(xing),邊緣有(you)細(xi)鋸齒。花(hua)雜性,成(cheng)腋生及頂生總狀(zhuang)花(hua)序,花(hua)部(bu)均有(you)細(xi)柔毛,花(hua)萼鐘形(xing),裂片(pian)4,卵(luan)(luan)狀(zhuang)披(pi)針形(xing),花(hua)瓣4,淡(dan)黃白(bai)色,卵(luan)(luan)形(xing)或長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)橢圓(yuan)形(xing),雄蕊8,4長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)4短,子房條形(xing),扁平,莢角直而扁平,有(you)光(guang)(guang)澤(ze),黑紫色,被(bei)白(bai)色粉,長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)12~30厘(li)米(mi)(mi),種(zhong)子多數(shu)(shu)扁平,長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)橢圓(yuan)形(xing),長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)約(yue)(yue)10毫(hao)米(mi)(mi),紅(hong)袍色有(you)光(guang)(guang)澤(ze)。棘刺(ci)多數(shu)(shu)分枝(zhi),主刺(ci)圓(yuan)柱形(xing),長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)5~15厘(li)米(mi)(mi),基(ji)部(bu)粗約(yue)(yue)8~12毫(hao)米(mi)(mi),末端(duan)尖銳,分枝(zhi)刺(ci)一般(ban)長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)1.5~7厘(li)米(mi)(mi),有(you)時(shi)再分歧(qi)成(cheng)小(xiao)(xiao)刺(ci),表面棕(zong)紫色,尖部(bu)紅(hong)棕(zong)色,光(guang)(guang)滑或有(you)細(xi)皺紋,質(zhi)堅硬難(nan)折斷(duan),木質(zhi)部(bu)黃白(bai)色,中心為淡(dan)灰棕(zong)色,而疏松(song)的髓部(bu),無臭,味(wei)淡(dan)。每年的5月份開(kai)花(hua),10月份果實成(cheng)熟(shu),棘刺(ci)長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)成(cheng)。
多生(sheng)于(yu)平原、山谷及丘陵地(di)區(qu)。但(dan)在溫暖地(di)區(qu)可(ke)(ke)分布在海拔(ba)1600米處(chu)。性喜(xi)光而稍耐蔭(yin),喜(xi)溫暖濕潤(run)氣候及深(shen)厚肥(fei)沃適當濕潤(run)土壤(rang)(rang),但(dan)對土壤(rang)(rang)要(yao)求不嚴(yan),在石灰質及鹽堿甚至粘土或砂土均(jun)能正(zheng)常生(sheng)長。皂莢的生(sheng)長速度慢但(dan)壽命(ming)很長,可(ke)(ke)達六七(qi)百年(nian)。屬于(yu)深(shen)根(gen)性樹種。需(xu)要(yao)6-8年(nian)的營養(yang)生(sheng)長才(cai)能開花結(jie)果(guo)。但(dan)是其結(jie)實期可(ke)(ke)長達數百年(nian)。
選擇樹(shu)干通(tong)直(zhi),生長較快,發育良好,種子飽滿的30-100年生盛果期的壯(zhuang)齡母樹(shu),于(yu)10月中下(xia)旬(xun)采種。采收的果實(shi)要(yao)攤開曝(pu)曬,干后將莢果砸(za)或碾碎,去果皮(pi),風選,即得凈種,種子陰干后裝袋干藏。
皂(zao)(zao)角(jiao)樹(shu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)皮(pi)較厚,發芽(ya)(ya)慢且不整齊,播種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)前,須進(jin)(jin)行(xing)催(cui)芽(ya)(ya)處理(li)。paramjeel認為皂(zao)(zao)角(jiao)樹(shu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)采(cai)(cai)用(yong)(yong)濃硫酸溶液處理(li)15h發芽(ya)(ya)率(lv)會(hui)提(ti)高(gao)(gao)。美(mei)國密西西比等地對皂(zao)(zao)角(jiao)樹(shu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)進(jin)(jin)行(xing)20種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)方(fang)法處理(li),認為用(yong)(yong)熱(re)水浸(jin)泡(pao)或熱(re)/冷(leng)水交替浸(jin)泡(pao)能處理(li)較多數量種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi),但種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)發芽(ya)(ya)率(lv)低;對種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)采(cai)(cai)用(yong)(yong)側面(mian)或端面(mian)刻痕和加熱(re)針在種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)衣上劃一個孔(燒傷(shang))能獲得(de)最好效果(guo)。也有報道認為,用(yong)(yong)波長632.8mm功率(lv)25mw激光處理(li)皂(zao)(zao)角(jiao)樹(shu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)和穗(sui)條,能不同程度(du)地提(ti)高(gao)(gao)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)發芽(ya)(ya)率(lv)與(yu)穗(sui)條生根率(lv)。另外(wai),采(cai)(cai)用(yong)(yong)1:4-5堿水48h浸(jin)泡(pao),再用(yong)(yong)清水泡(pao)24h,發芽(ya)(ya)率(lv)可(ke)達80%-92%。也可(ke)在秋末(mo)冬初,將凈選的(de)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)放人(ren)水中,待其充分吸(xi)水后,撈出(chu)混合濕沙貯藏(zang)催(cui)芽(ya)(ya),次春種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)裂(lie)嘴后,進(jin)(jin)行(xing)播種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。
育(yu)苗(miao)(miao)(miao)地應選(xuan)擇土壤(rang)肥(fei)沃(wo),灌溉方便的地方,進行(xing)細致整地,每667平(ping)方米,施有(you)機肥(fei)3000~5000kg,筑成平(ping)床(chuang)或高床(chuang)。采用條播,條距(ju)20~25cm,每米長播種溝播種10-15粒(li),播后(hou)覆土3-4cm厚,并經常保持(chi)土壤(rang)濕潤(run)。苗(miao)(miao)(miao)高10cm左右時,間(jian)苗(miao)(miao)(miao)、定苗(miao)(miao)(miao),株距(ju)10-15cm,當(dang)年苗(miao)(miao)(miao)高可達50~100cm。若培育(yu)2年生大苗(miao)(miao)(miao),于秋(qiu)末苗(miao)(miao)(miao)木落葉后(hou),按(an)0.5m×0.5m的行(xing)株距(ju)進行(xing)換床(chuang)移植(zhi)。
皂角樹人工造(zao)(zao)林(lin)采用直播造(zao)(zao)林(lin)、植苗造(zao)(zao)林(lin)、根蘗分株(zhu)造(zao)(zao)林(lin)等方(fang)式(shi)進行(xing)。對每公頃達(da)不到9000株(zhu)(叢)的林(lin)地要(yao)進行(xing)補植補造(zao)(zao)或新造(zao)(zao)。
直播(bo)造林可(ke)在春季土壤(rang)墑(di)情較好或(huo)雨季降過透雨后直播(bo)造林,可(ke)采(cai)用穴(xue)(xue)(xue)播(bo)或(huo)撒播(bo)兩種(zhong)方(fang)式:穴(xue)(xue)(xue)播(bo)每公頃9000-12000穴(xue)(xue)(xue),穴(xue)(xue)(xue)的規格為25cm×25cm,每穴(xue)(xue)(xue)點播(bo)8-10粒(li)種(zhong)子,覆土厚(hou)2-3cm,播(bo)種(zhong)量(liang)225-337.5kg/h平方(fang)米,一般10d左右(you)即可(ke)出(chu)土;巖石裸(luo)露和人工不易進行穴(xue)(xue)(xue)播(bo)的地段可(ke)采(cai)用撒播(bo),播(bo)種(zhong)量(liang)450-675kg/h平方(fang)米。
植(zhi)苗(miao)(miao)造林(lin)(lin)春秋兩季(ji)均可造林(lin)(lin),以秋冬季(ji)造林(lin)(lin)為(wei)好(hao)。造林(lin)(lin)前一般要(yao)進行小穴整地,穴規格為(wei)30cm×30cm×20cm,株行距1.0m×1.0-1.5m。栽植(zhi)時(shi)要(yao)深栽踩(cai)實不露根。雨季(ji)雨量較多時(shi),也(ye)可利用(yong)當年苗(miao)(miao)進行雨季(ji)造林(lin)(lin),要(yao)求苗(miao)(miao)高(gao)20cm以上。半(ban)木質(zhi)化小苗(miao)(miao)上山造林(lin)(lin),效果也(ye)很好(hao)。植(zhi)苗(miao)(miao)造林(lin)(lin)主要(yao)用(yong)于缺株補植(zhi)。
根(gen)(gen)蘗(bo)分株(zhu)造林根(gen)(gen)蘗(bo)分株(zhu)造林在早春發(fa)芽前或(huo)秋(qiu)季落葉后進行,土(tu)(tu)壤水(shui)分充足的(de)地(di)方可邊分株(zhu)邊造林。栽(zai)(zai)植(zhi)時(shi)剪去地(di)上部分,只栽(zai)(zai)根(gen)(gen)部,栽(zai)(zai)植(zhi)穴的(de)大小要(yao)與根(gen)(gen)系(xi)的(de)大小相適宜,培土(tu)(tu)要(yao)踩實(shi),以保墑保成活(huo)。
火燒(shao)跡(ji)地更新(xin)造(zao)(zao)林對因冬(dong)春季野外用(yong)(yong)火管(guan)理不嚴造(zao)(zao)成(cheng)皂(zao)角樹(shu)天然林被燒(shao)損的火燒(shao)跡(ji)地,可(ke)利用(yong)(yong)其生(sheng)(sheng)長特性,進(jin)行跡(ji)地更新(xin)。方法是將地上燒(shao)傷植株(zhu)從基部伐(fa)除(chu),促(cu)進(jin)其萌蘗(bo)生(sheng)(sheng)出新(xin)植株(zhu)。此方法簡便易行,成(cheng)林快(kuai),效(xiao)果明顯。