Vol. 12, Issue 3 (2023)

Author(s):
Neetha P and Subodh Dhonde

Abstract:
Bark plays a crucial role in tree protection and survival, particularly under semi-arid climatic conditions. This study evaluates the variation in bark thickness across tree size classes in Candidate Plus Trees (CPTs) of Azadirachta indica (Neem) from three districts in South-Eastern Rajasthan: Jhalawar, Kota, and Baran. A total of 90 trees were grouped into three girth at breast height (GBH) classes: small (<100 cm), medium (100–149 cm), and large (≥150 cm). Bark thickness was measured and statistically compared across these groups. While larger trees showed a slightly higher mean bark thickness, one-way ANOVA and correlation analysis indicated that this trend was not statistically significant. These findings suggest that bark thickness in Neem may not scale strongly with tree girth, potentially due to anatomical constraints or environmental variability. Understanding such protective traits provides insights into drought resilience and guides selection strategies for semi-arid forestry.