Sal Tree

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Key points about Sal seeds:

Odisha has no major solvent extraction plant that produces oil from sal seeds, due to which the intermediaries procure the seeds from the state at a lower rate and sell them at a higher rate to the oil companies of other states
The state of Odisha has a rich depository of sal seeds accounting for 25 per cent of the country’s production, which played a significant role in the economics of the tribal people in the state.
Other major Sal seeds producing states include Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand.

About Sal Tree:

It is a large sub-deciduous tree which is seldom completely leafless.
It is indigenous to India and occurs in two main regions separated by Gangetic plain namely the northern and central Indian regions.
It requires well-drained, moist and sandy loam soil.
Climatic conditions required: It survives upto a maximum temperature of 36°C to 44°C and minimum temperature of 11°C to 17°C and it needs an average rainfall of 1000 mm to 3500 mm per annum.
The resin of this tree is used in the indigenous system of medicine.

Q1) What is Loamy soil?

Loam soil is a type of soil that is considered to be ideal for plant growth. It is a balanced soil composition that combines three main soil particles: sand, silt, and clay, in roughly equal proportions.

Source: Odisha to procure sal seeds from 9 districts; tribals say it’s too late