皂角樹原產(chan)中國長江流域(yu),分(fen)布極廣(guang),自中國北(bei)(bei)部至(zhi)南部及(ji)西(xi)南均有分(fen)布。適宜栽種的地區為:山西(xi)、山東、河南、甘(gan)肅(su)、河北(bei)(bei)、內蒙古、江蘇、湖北(bei)(bei)、湖南、廣(guang)東、廣(guang)西(xi)、四川、安徽(hui)、浙江、貴州、陜(shan)西(xi)、江西(xi)、云南及(ji)東北(bei)(bei)三(san)省等地區。
皂角樹(shu)是(shi)落葉喬(qiao)木(mu),樹(shu)高(gao)可達15~20米(mi)(mi)(mi),樹(shu)冠可達15米(mi)(mi)(mi),棘刺(ci)(ci)粗壯,紅褐色(se)(se)(se),常(chang)分(fen)枝,雙數(shu)羽狀(zhuang)復葉,小(xiao)葉4~7對,小(xiao)葉片為(wei)卵(luan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),卵(luan)狀(zhuang)披(pi)針形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)或長(chang)(chang)橢圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)狀(zhuang)卵(luan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),長(chang)(chang)3~8厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi),寬1~3.5厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi),先端(duan)鈍(dun),有(you)(you)時(shi)凸,基部(bu)(bu)斜圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)或楔形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),邊緣有(you)(you)細鋸齒。花(hua)雜性,成(cheng)腋(ye)生及頂生總(zong)狀(zhuang)花(hua)序,花(hua)部(bu)(bu)均有(you)(you)細柔毛,花(hua)萼鐘(zhong)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),裂片4,卵(luan)狀(zhuang)披(pi)針形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),花(hua)瓣4,淡黃白色(se)(se)(se),卵(luan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)或長(chang)(chang)橢圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),雄蕊8,4長(chang)(chang)4短,子房條形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),扁(bian)(bian)平,莢角直而扁(bian)(bian)平,有(you)(you)光澤,黑紫色(se)(se)(se),被白色(se)(se)(se)粉,長(chang)(chang)12~30厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi),種子多(duo)數(shu)扁(bian)(bian)平,長(chang)(chang)橢圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),長(chang)(chang)約10毫米(mi)(mi)(mi),紅袍色(se)(se)(se)有(you)(you)光澤。棘刺(ci)(ci)多(duo)數(shu)分(fen)枝,主刺(ci)(ci)圓(yuan)柱形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),長(chang)(chang)5~15厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi),基部(bu)(bu)粗約8~12毫米(mi)(mi)(mi),末(mo)端(duan)尖銳,分(fen)枝刺(ci)(ci)一般(ban)長(chang)(chang)1.5~7厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi),有(you)(you)時(shi)再分(fen)歧成(cheng)小(xiao)刺(ci)(ci),表面棕紫色(se)(se)(se),尖部(bu)(bu)紅棕色(se)(se)(se),光滑或有(you)(you)細皺紋,質(zhi)堅硬難折斷,木(mu)質(zhi)部(bu)(bu)黃白色(se)(se)(se),中心為(wei)淡灰棕色(se)(se)(se),而疏(shu)松的髓部(bu)(bu),無臭,味淡。每年的5月份開花(hua),10月份果(guo)實成(cheng)熟,棘刺(ci)(ci)長(chang)(chang)成(cheng)。
多(duo)生(sheng)于(yu)(yu)平(ping)原、山谷(gu)及丘陵地(di)(di)區。但(dan)在溫暖地(di)(di)區可(ke)分布在海(hai)拔1600米處。性喜(xi)光而稍耐蔭,喜(xi)溫暖濕潤氣候及深厚肥沃適當濕潤土(tu)(tu)壤,但(dan)對土(tu)(tu)壤要求不嚴,在石灰質及鹽堿甚至粘土(tu)(tu)或砂土(tu)(tu)均(jun)能正常生(sheng)長。皂莢的(de)(de)生(sheng)長速(su)度慢但(dan)壽命很長,可(ke)達六(liu)七百年。屬(shu)于(yu)(yu)深根性樹種。需(xu)要6-8年的(de)(de)營養(yang)生(sheng)長才(cai)能開花(hua)結果。但(dan)是(shi)其結實期可(ke)長達數百年。
選(xuan)擇(ze)樹干通直,生(sheng)長(chang)較快,發育良好(hao),種子飽滿的(de)30-100年生(sheng)盛果(guo)期(qi)的(de)壯齡母(mu)樹,于10月中下旬采種。采收的(de)果(guo)實要(yao)攤開曝(pu)曬,干后將莢果(guo)砸(za)或碾碎,去果(guo)皮,風選(xuan),即得(de)凈種,種子陰干后裝(zhuang)袋干藏。
皂角樹種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)皮較(jiao)厚,發芽(ya)慢且不(bu)整齊,播種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)前(qian),須進(jin)(jin)行催芽(ya)處(chu)理(li)(li)。paramjeel認為(wei)皂角樹種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)采(cai)用(yong)濃(nong)硫酸溶液處(chu)理(li)(li)15h發芽(ya)率(lv)(lv)會提(ti)高(gao)。美國密西(xi)西(xi)比等地(di)對皂角樹種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)進(jin)(jin)行20種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)方法處(chu)理(li)(li),認為(wei)用(yong)熱(re)水(shui)浸泡或(huo)熱(re)/冷(leng)水(shui)交替浸泡能處(chu)理(li)(li)較(jiao)多數量種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi),但種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)發芽(ya)率(lv)(lv)低;對種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)采(cai)用(yong)側(ce)面(mian)或(huo)端面(mian)刻痕和加熱(re)針(zhen)在(zai)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)衣上(shang)劃(hua)一個(ge)孔(燒傷)能獲得(de)最好(hao)效果(guo)。也有報道(dao)認為(wei),用(yong)波長632.8mm功率(lv)(lv)25mw激光處(chu)理(li)(li)皂角樹種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)和穗條,能不(bu)同(tong)程度地(di)提(ti)高(gao)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)發芽(ya)率(lv)(lv)與穗條生(sheng)根率(lv)(lv)。另外,采(cai)用(yong)1:4-5堿(jian)水(shui)48h浸泡,再用(yong)清(qing)水(shui)泡24h,發芽(ya)率(lv)(lv)可(ke)(ke)達(da)80%-92%。也可(ke)(ke)在(zai)秋末冬初(chu),將(jiang)凈選(xuan)的種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)放人(ren)水(shui)中,待其(qi)充(chong)分(fen)吸(xi)水(shui)后(hou),撈(lao)出混合濕沙貯藏催芽(ya),次春種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)裂嘴后(hou),進(jin)(jin)行播種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。
育苗(miao)(miao)地(di)應選擇土壤(rang)肥沃(wo),灌溉方便的地(di)方,進行細致整(zheng)地(di),每667平方米,施有(you)機肥3000~5000kg,筑成平床或高床。采用(yong)條播(bo)(bo),條距20~25cm,每米長(chang)播(bo)(bo)種溝播(bo)(bo)種10-15粒(li),播(bo)(bo)后(hou)覆土3-4cm厚,并經常(chang)保(bao)持土壤(rang)濕潤(run)。苗(miao)(miao)高10cm左右時(shi),間苗(miao)(miao)、定苗(miao)(miao),株距10-15cm,當年苗(miao)(miao)高可達50~100cm。若培育2年生大苗(miao)(miao),于秋(qiu)末苗(miao)(miao)木落葉(xie)后(hou),按(an)0.5m×0.5m的行株距進行換床移植。
皂(zao)角樹人工造(zao)(zao)林(lin)(lin)采用(yong)直播造(zao)(zao)林(lin)(lin)、植苗造(zao)(zao)林(lin)(lin)、根蘗(bo)分株造(zao)(zao)林(lin)(lin)等方式進行(xing)。對每(mei)公頃達不到9000株(叢)的林(lin)(lin)地(di)要進行(xing)補植補造(zao)(zao)或(huo)新造(zao)(zao)。
直(zhi)播(bo)(bo)造(zao)林可(ke)在(zai)春季(ji)土壤墑情較好或(huo)雨季(ji)降(jiang)過透雨后直(zhi)播(bo)(bo)造(zao)林,可(ke)采用穴(xue)播(bo)(bo)或(huo)撒(sa)播(bo)(bo)兩種(zhong)方式:穴(xue)播(bo)(bo)每公頃9000-12000穴(xue),穴(xue)的規(gui)格(ge)為25cm×25cm,每穴(xue)點(dian)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(ping)方米,一般(ban)10d左右即可(ke)出土;巖(yan)石裸露和人工不易進行(xing)穴(xue)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(ping)方米。
植(zhi)苗造(zao)林(lin)(lin)春秋兩季(ji)(ji)均可造(zao)林(lin)(lin),以秋冬(dong)季(ji)(ji)造(zao)林(lin)(lin)為好。造(zao)林(lin)(lin)前一(yi)般要(yao)進行小穴整(zheng)地,穴規格為30cm×30cm×20cm,株行距1.0m×1.0-1.5m。栽(zai)植(zhi)時(shi)要(yao)深(shen)栽(zai)踩實不露根(gen)。雨(yu)(yu)季(ji)(ji)雨(yu)(yu)量(liang)較(jiao)多(duo)時(shi),也(ye)可利(li)用當(dang)年苗進行雨(yu)(yu)季(ji)(ji)造(zao)林(lin)(lin),要(yao)求苗高20cm以上。半木質化(hua)小苗上山造(zao)林(lin)(lin),效果也(ye)很(hen)好。植(zhi)苗造(zao)林(lin)(lin)主(zhu)要(yao)用于缺(que)株補植(zhi)。
根蘗分(fen)株(zhu)(zhu)造林根蘗分(fen)株(zhu)(zhu)造林在早春(chun)發芽(ya)前或(huo)秋(qiu)季(ji)落(luo)葉(xie)后進行,土壤(rang)水(shui)分(fen)充足的地方可邊分(fen)株(zhu)(zhu)邊造林。栽(zai)植時剪(jian)去地上部分(fen),只栽(zai)根部,栽(zai)植穴的大(da)小(xiao)要(yao)與根系的大(da)小(xiao)相(xiang)適宜,培土要(yao)踩實,以(yi)保(bao)墑保(bao)成(cheng)活(huo)。
火(huo)燒(shao)跡地(di)更新(xin)(xin)造(zao)林對(dui)因冬春季野外用火(huo)管理(li)不嚴造(zao)成皂角樹天然林被(bei)燒(shao)損的火(huo)燒(shao)跡地(di),可利(li)用其生(sheng)長特性(xing),進行跡地(di)更新(xin)(xin)。方法是將地(di)上(shang)燒(shao)傷植株(zhu)從基部(bu)伐除,促進其萌蘗生(sheng)出新(xin)(xin)植株(zhu)。此方法簡便易(yi)行,成林快,效果明顯。