Persian or Indian Lilac tree, in Punjabi known as Drek whereas in Sanskrit it is known as Mahanimba, Himarudra and in Hindi known as Bakayan tree. It is similar to Neem in appearance. It is widely found in Persia and in some parts of western Himalaya. It belongs to family of Meliaceae. This species is native of West Asia. This is deciduous tree and grows upto 45 m. Drek tree mainly use for timber (but it is of fair quality) beside its root, bark, fruits, seeds, flower and gum have medicinal property. Fresh also dried leaves and oil and ash of plant is used for curing coughs, bacterial infections, dysentery, burns, headache and cancer etc. It is short duration crop (lives upto 20 years) and it is not suitable in areas of having high wind.

It can be grown on variety of soil but for good growth, it required deep, fertile sandy loam soils.

Do ploughing, cross ploughing of land and then levelled the land. Prepare land in such way that water stagnation should not occurred in field.

Time of sowing
It is a fast growing crop and it can reproduce from seeds also from rooting from branches and stems. For planting, one year old seedling are used in temperate climate where as 6 month old seedlings are used for planting in tropic climate. Seeds are sown during monsoon periods. It bloom during mid-spring. Flowers are of violet color.  

Spacing
Use spacing of 9-12 m.

Sowing Depth
Depth should be 5-8 cm.

Method of sowing
It is sown by direct sowing or by transplanting method.

Seed Treatment
To increased germination, seed should be soaked in water for 24 hours before sowing.

It does not required frequent fertilization.

Do mulching so that it will keep check on weeds also conserved water

 In summer, apply irrigation with interval of 15 days and in winter, give water through drips @25-30litres/day/tree in October-December month. In monsoon month, it does not require irrigation. Avoid irrigation during the flowering period.

• Pest and their control:

No serious pests are observed on drek crop. But White Cedar Moth and Spider Mite can affect drek to some extent.

• Disease and their control:

Leaf spot: It causes premature defoliation. If infection is observed, to control take spray of copper oxy chloride fungicide.

Powdery Mildew: If infection is observed, to control take spray of wettable Sulphur.

Bark of tree is of dark grey color. It also grown as ornamental tree. It get flower during summer season and fruits ripen during winter or cold season. Its extract of leaves, kernels, seeds or fruits are effective repellent to different crop pest like termite, grass hopper, locust etc.

1.Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana

2.Department of Agriculture

3.Indian Agricultural Research Instittute, New Delhi

4.Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research

5.Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare