Argan - Argania spinosa

Description and Uses

Argania spinosa (Argan) is a tropical shrub from South West Europe. It is mainly grown for its oil crops (long shelflife), but also

can be produced. The crop is harvested by hand picking. It starts flowering after 5 - 6 years. The first yield will be 1 but in its top season there will be a yield of 8 kg/shrub/yr.

. Medical uses include;

The seed/nut contains - n/a - (0% - 0%). There is Argan oil extracted by expeller pressing from the shrub`s seed/nut yielding 30 - 50% oil. The shrub`s wood is called Argan wood and has a density of 600 - 800 kg/m³. Regarding firewood production the shrub`s growing speed is very slow, its energetic value is 4400 ckal/kg and the wood`s drying speed is fast; for firewood production it is not ideal. After 100 years the shrub can be totally removed as it reached its commercial and ecological goal. Argania spinosa has a lifespan of 250 years.

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Environmental limitations

The shrub is 11 meters tall. It is very slow growing and tolerates not less light than full sun. Argania spinosa has a deep root-system and forms symbiotic relations

(endo-mycorrhiza). It is not able to fix nitrogen. The shrub`s flower-morphology is monoecious and is pollinated by bees. Argania spinosa is evergreen and not allelopathic and has thorns.

Argania spinosa thrives in an altitude of 0 to 1500 meters above sea-level (tropical). The minimum temperature is 0°C and optimally between 18 - 20°C. The optimal rainfall is 350 mm/year. Without irrigation the annual rainfall should be between 100 - 500 mm (L/m²). The optimal soil-pH is between 6.0 - 8.0 in a soil texture of sand. To salt it is tolerant to wind tolerant and to fire a bit tolerant.

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Pests and Diseases

and

diseases.

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Seed Propagation

Seeds are orthodox and can be stored for 1 months. There are approximative 500 seeds/kg. Unfortunately propagation instruction is missing.

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