皂角樹(shu)原產(chan)中(zhong)(zhong)國長江(jiang)(jiang)流(liu)域,分布極廣,自中(zhong)(zhong)國北(bei)部(bu)至(zhi)南部(bu)及西(xi)南均有分布。適宜(yi)栽種(zhong)的地(di)區(qu)為:山西(xi)、山東、河(he)南、甘肅、河(he)北(bei)、內蒙古(gu)、江(jiang)(jiang)蘇(su)、湖北(bei)、湖南、廣東、廣西(xi)、四川(chuan)、安徽、浙江(jiang)(jiang)、貴州、陜西(xi)、江(jiang)(jiang)西(xi)、云南及東北(bei)三省(sheng)等地(di)區(qu)。
皂(zao)角樹是落葉喬木,樹高可達(da)15~20米(mi)(mi)(mi),樹冠可達(da)15米(mi)(mi)(mi),棘(ji)刺(ci)粗壯,紅(hong)褐色(se),常分(fen)枝,雙數羽狀(zhuang)復葉,小(xiao)葉4~7對,小(xiao)葉片(pian)為卵(luan)形(xing)(xing)(xing),卵(luan)狀(zhuang)披針形(xing)(xing)(xing)或(huo)(huo)長(chang)橢圓(yuan)(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)狀(zhuang)卵(luan)形(xing)(xing)(xing),長(chang)3~8厘(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi),寬1~3.5厘(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi),先端(duan)鈍(dun),有(you)(you)時凸(tu),基(ji)部(bu)斜圓(yuan)(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)或(huo)(huo)楔(xie)形(xing)(xing)(xing),邊緣(yuan)有(you)(you)細(xi)鋸齒。花(hua)(hua)雜(za)性,成(cheng)腋生(sheng)及頂(ding)生(sheng)總狀(zhuang)花(hua)(hua)序,花(hua)(hua)部(bu)均(jun)有(you)(you)細(xi)柔毛,花(hua)(hua)萼(e)鐘形(xing)(xing)(xing),裂片(pian)4,卵(luan)狀(zhuang)披針形(xing)(xing)(xing),花(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)4,淡黃白(bai)色(se),卵(luan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)或(huo)(huo)長(chang)橢圓(yuan)(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing),雄蕊8,4長(chang)4短,子房(fang)條形(xing)(xing)(xing),扁平(ping),莢(jia)角直而(er)(er)扁平(ping),有(you)(you)光澤(ze),黑紫色(se),被白(bai)色(se)粉,長(chang)12~30厘(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi),種子多數扁平(ping),長(chang)橢圓(yuan)(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing),長(chang)約10毫米(mi)(mi)(mi),紅(hong)袍(pao)色(se)有(you)(you)光澤(ze)。棘(ji)刺(ci)多數分(fen)枝,主刺(ci)圓(yuan)(yuan)柱形(xing)(xing)(xing),長(chang)5~15厘(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi),基(ji)部(bu)粗約8~12毫米(mi)(mi)(mi),末(mo)端(duan)尖銳,分(fen)枝刺(ci)一般長(chang)1.5~7厘(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi),有(you)(you)時再分(fen)歧(qi)成(cheng)小(xiao)刺(ci),表面棕(zong)紫色(se),尖部(bu)紅(hong)棕(zong)色(se),光滑或(huo)(huo)有(you)(you)細(xi)皺紋,質堅硬(ying)難折斷,木質部(bu)黃白(bai)色(se),中心為淡灰(hui)棕(zong)色(se),而(er)(er)疏(shu)松的髓部(bu),無(wu)臭,味淡。每年(nian)的5月份開花(hua)(hua),10月份果(guo)實(shi)成(cheng)熟,棘(ji)刺(ci)長(chang)成(cheng)。
多生(sheng)于(yu)(yu)平原、山谷及(ji)丘陵地(di)區(qu)。但(dan)在溫(wen)暖地(di)區(qu)可分(fen)布(bu)在海拔1600米(mi)處。性(xing)喜(xi)光而稍耐(nai)蔭,喜(xi)溫(wen)暖濕潤氣候及(ji)深厚肥(fei)沃適(shi)當濕潤土(tu)(tu)壤,但(dan)對土(tu)(tu)壤要求不嚴,在石灰(hui)質(zhi)及(ji)鹽堿甚至粘土(tu)(tu)或砂土(tu)(tu)均能正常生(sheng)長(chang)(chang)。皂莢的(de)生(sheng)長(chang)(chang)速度慢但(dan)壽命很(hen)長(chang)(chang),可達六(liu)七百(bai)年。屬于(yu)(yu)深根(gen)性(xing)樹(shu)種。需要6-8年的(de)營養生(sheng)長(chang)(chang)才能開(kai)花結果(guo)。但(dan)是其結實期(qi)可長(chang)(chang)達數百(bai)年。
選擇樹干通(tong)直,生長較快,發育(yu)良好(hao),種子飽滿的30-100年生盛果(guo)(guo)期的壯齡母(mu)樹,于10月中下旬采種。采收(shou)的果(guo)(guo)實要(yao)攤(tan)開(kai)曝曬(shai),干后將莢果(guo)(guo)砸或碾碎,去果(guo)(guo)皮,風(feng)選,即得凈種,種子陰干后裝袋(dai)干藏。
皂(zao)(zao)角樹種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)皮較厚(hou),發芽(ya)(ya)慢且(qie)不整(zheng)齊,播(bo)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)前,須進(jin)(jin)(jin)行(xing)催芽(ya)(ya)處(chu)理。paramjeel認為(wei)皂(zao)(zao)角樹種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)(zi)采(cai)用(yong)(yong)(yong)濃硫(liu)酸(suan)溶液處(chu)理15h發芽(ya)(ya)率會提(ti)高。美國密(mi)西西比等(deng)地對皂(zao)(zao)角樹種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)(zi)進(jin)(jin)(jin)行(xing)20種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)方法處(chu)理,認為(wei)用(yong)(yong)(yong)熱水浸(jin)泡(pao)或(huo)(huo)熱/冷水交替浸(jin)泡(pao)能(neng)處(chu)理較多數量種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)(zi),但種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)(zi)發芽(ya)(ya)率低;對種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)(zi)采(cai)用(yong)(yong)(yong)側(ce)面(mian)或(huo)(huo)端面(mian)刻痕和加(jia)熱針(zhen)在(zai)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)衣上劃一(yi)個孔(kong)(燒傷(shang))能(neng)獲得(de)最好效果(guo)。也有(you)報道(dao)認為(wei),用(yong)(yong)(yong)波長632.8mm功率25mw激(ji)光處(chu)理皂(zao)(zao)角樹種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)(zi)和穗條(tiao),能(neng)不同程度地提(ti)高種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)(zi)發芽(ya)(ya)率與穗條(tiao)生根率。另外,采(cai)用(yong)(yong)(yong)1:4-5堿水48h浸(jin)泡(pao),再用(yong)(yong)(yong)清水泡(pao)24h,發芽(ya)(ya)率可(ke)達80%-92%。也可(ke)在(zai)秋末冬初,將凈(jing)選的種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)(zi)放人水中,待其充分吸水后,撈出混合濕沙貯藏(zang)催芽(ya)(ya),次春種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)(zi)裂嘴后,進(jin)(jin)(jin)行(xing)播(bo)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。
育(yu)苗(miao)地應(ying)選擇土壤肥沃(wo),灌溉(gai)方(fang)便的地方(fang),進(jin)行細致整地,每(mei)667平方(fang)米,施有機肥3000~5000kg,筑成平床(chuang)或高(gao)床(chuang)。采用條(tiao)播(bo),條(tiao)距20~25cm,每(mei)米長播(bo)種溝播(bo)種10-15粒(li),播(bo)后覆土3-4cm厚,并經(jing)常保持(chi)土壤濕潤(run)。苗(miao)高(gao)10cm左右時,間苗(miao)、定苗(miao),株距10-15cm,當年苗(miao)高(gao)可達50~100cm。若培(pei)育(yu)2年生大苗(miao),于秋(qiu)末(mo)苗(miao)木落(luo)葉(xie)后,按(an)0.5m×0.5m的行株距進(jin)行換床(chuang)移植。
皂角樹(shu)人(ren)工造(zao)林采用直播(bo)造(zao)林、植(zhi)苗造(zao)林、根蘗分株造(zao)林等方式進行(xing)。對每公頃達不(bu)到9000株(叢)的林地要進行(xing)補植(zhi)補造(zao)或(huo)新造(zao)。
直播(bo)造林(lin)可在春季(ji)土(tu)壤墑情較(jiao)好或雨季(ji)降過透雨后直播(bo)造林(lin),可采用穴(xue)播(bo)或撒播(bo)兩種(zhong)方式(shi):穴(xue)播(bo)每公頃9000-12000穴(xue),穴(xue)的規格為25cm×25cm,每穴(xue)點播(bo)8-10粒(li)種(zhong)子,覆土(tu)厚2-3cm,播(bo)種(zhong)量225-337.5kg/h平方米,一般10d左右即可出(chu)土(tu);巖石裸露和人工不易(yi)進行(xing)穴(xue)播(bo)的地段可采用撒播(bo),播(bo)種(zhong)量450-675kg/h平方米。
植苗(miao)(miao)造(zao)林(lin)春秋(qiu)兩季均可造(zao)林(lin),以秋(qiu)冬季造(zao)林(lin)為(wei)好。造(zao)林(lin)前一般要(yao)(yao)進(jin)行小(xiao)(xiao)穴(xue)(xue)整地(di),穴(xue)(xue)規格為(wei)30cm×30cm×20cm,株(zhu)行距(ju)1.0m×1.0-1.5m。栽植時(shi)要(yao)(yao)深栽踩(cai)實(shi)不(bu)露根。雨季雨量較多時(shi),也可利用(yong)當年苗(miao)(miao)進(jin)行雨季造(zao)林(lin),要(yao)(yao)求苗(miao)(miao)高20cm以上(shang)(shang)。半木質化小(xiao)(xiao)苗(miao)(miao)上(shang)(shang)山造(zao)林(lin),效果也很好。植苗(miao)(miao)造(zao)林(lin)主要(yao)(yao)用(yong)于缺株(zhu)補植。
根(gen)(gen)蘗分(fen)株造林根(gen)(gen)蘗分(fen)株造林在(zai)早春發芽前或秋(qiu)季落葉后進行,土(tu)壤水分(fen)充足的地方可邊(bian)分(fen)株邊(bian)造林。栽(zai)(zai)植時剪去地上部分(fen),只(zhi)栽(zai)(zai)根(gen)(gen)部,栽(zai)(zai)植穴的大(da)小要(yao)與(yu)根(gen)(gen)系的大(da)小相適宜,培土(tu)要(yao)踩實(shi),以保(bao)(bao)墑保(bao)(bao)成活。
火燒(shao)(shao)跡(ji)地(di)更新(xin)造林(lin)對(dui)因冬春季(ji)野外用火管(guan)理(li)不嚴造成皂(zao)角樹(shu)天然林(lin)被燒(shao)(shao)損的火燒(shao)(shao)跡(ji)地(di),可利(li)用其生長特(te)性,進(jin)行(xing)跡(ji)地(di)更新(xin)。方法是將地(di)上燒(shao)(shao)傷植(zhi)株(zhu)(zhu)從基部伐除(chu),促進(jin)其萌蘗生出新(xin)植(zhi)株(zhu)(zhu)。此(ci)方法簡(jian)便(bian)易行(xing),成林(lin)快,效果明顯。