Section C
3b. Package and Practice of Citronella :
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Cymbopogon winterianus
FAMILY: Poaceae It is a tufted aromatic perennial herb with fibrous roots, smooth leaves and bearing a large inflorescence.
ESSENTIAL PARTS: Citronella oil and Citronella leaves
CONSTITUENTS OF ESSENTIAL OIL: Citronella oil contains geraniol ( 18-20 %).
SOIL: Sandy loam soil with abundant organic matter is suitable with ph: 5.8- 6.0 Model Project Profile Advancing North East 2
➢ CLIMATE: It requires abundant moisture and sunshine with good rainfall of about 2000-2500 mm
➢ PROPAGATION: It is propagated vegetatively by slips by splitting well-grown clumps. The clump is separated into number of slips and each slip contain 1- 3 tillers ➢ SEASON OF PLANTING: Onset of monsoon
➢ SPACING: 60cm X 60 cm apart
➢ IRRIGATION: Irrigation should be provided twice a week during the first month of planting and thereafter once in 5 days.
➢ MANURING: Under Northeast India and North India, 80-120 kg N /ha/ year is recommended and 40/kg/ ha of phosphorus and potassium each.
➢ HARVESTING: Harvesting is done by a sharp sickle at about 20-45 cm above the ground. The leaves are ready for first harvest about 6 months after planting. The second and subsequent harvests can be done 2.5-3 months interval. Under favourable conditions, upto 4 harvests can be obtained in a year.
➢ YIELD: The yield of fresh leaves is about 15-20 tonnes /in first year and 20-25 tonnes /ha in second as well as third year. The yield of oil obtained during first year is about 100 kg/ha and 150 kg/ha during second and third years. Under very favourable conditions, yield of 200-250 kg/ha can be obtained.
➢ DISEASES: Generally, leaf bight and anthracnose affects citronella. Dithane M-45 or Z-78 sprays control leaf blight and anthracnose can be controlled by application of Dithiocarbamate.
3a. Package and Practice of Lemongrass INTRODUCTION
Lemon grass (Cymbopogan flexuosus) is a native aromatic tall sedge (family: Poaceae) which grows in many parts of tropical and sub-tropical South East Asia and Africa. In India, it is cultivated along Western Ghats (Maharashtra, Kerala), Karnataka and Tamil Nadu states besides foot-hills of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. It was introduced in India about a century back and is now commercially cultivated in these States.
2. OBJECTIVE
The main objective of this report is to present a bankable one acre model for high quality commercial cultivation of the crop.
3. BACKGROUND
3.1 Origin
Most of the species of lemon grass are native to South Asia, South-east Asia and Australia.
The so called East Indian lemon grass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) , also known as Malabar or
Cochin grass is native to India , Sri Lanka, Burma and Thailand ; for the related West Indian lemon grass (C. citratus ),
a Malesian origin is generally assumed. Both the species are today cultivated throughout tropical Asia.
3.3 Area and Production
At present, India grows this crop in 3,000 ha area, largely in states of Kerala, Karnataka, U.P. and Assam and the annual production ranges between 300-350 t/annum.
3.4 Economic Importance
The oil is distilled from leaves and flowering tops of Lemon grass. The oil has strong lemon-like odour, due to high percentage ( over 75%) of citral in the oil. The characteristic smell of oil makes its use in scenting of soaps, detergents, insect repellent preparations. However, the major use of oil is as a source of citral, which goes in perfumery, cosmetics, beverages and is a starting material for manufacture of ionones, which produces vitamin – A. The Citral rich oil has germicidal, medicinal and flavouring properties. An allied species called West Indian lemon grass (C.citratus) has low citral content in the oil and has meager trade in the country.
4. MARKET ANALYSIS AND STRATEGY
4.1 Demand and Supply Patterns
During early fifties India produced over 1800 t/annum of this oil and held monopoly both in production and world trade. This situation no longer exists as Guatemala, China, Mexico, Bangladesh etc. have developed its cultivation over large areas.
PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY
5.1 Agro-climatic Requirements
The crop grows well in both tropical and subtropical climates at an elevation upto 900 m. (above m.s.l.).
However, ideal conditions for growing lemon grass are warm and humid climate with sufficient sunshine
and 250-330 cm rainfall per annum, evenly distributed over most part of the year. A temperature ranging from
20-300 C and good sunshine throughout the year is conducive to high crop yield. Lemon grass can also be
grown in semi-arid regions receiving low to moderate rainfall.
Lemon grass can grow well over medium fertile soils and moderate irrigation. Well drained sandy loam
is most suitable for the growth of the plant . It can be grown on a variety of soils ranging from loam to
poor laterite. Calcareous and water logged soils should be avoided as they are unsuitable for cultivation.
5.2 Growing and Potential Belts
Lemon grass is widely cultivated in the states of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu in the southern region, parts of Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal in the northern region and Assam in the north-eastern region. At present, East Indian lemon grass (C.flexuosus) is mainly cultivated in the western part of India.
It can be cultivated throughout Andhra Pradesh either as a rainfed or irrigated crop in poor and marginal soils, wastelands and alkaline soils having
pH 9.6.
5.3 Varieties
The varieties of lemon grass grown in the country include the following : Pragati , Praman , Jama Rosa .
5.4 Propagation
The crop is best propagated through seed raised in nurseries, 2.5 kg. of the fresh seed produces
enough seedling for planting one ha. of land. It is also vegetatively propagated by splitting the clumps into slips.
These are planted at a spacing of 60x80 cm. About 55,000 slips are required for one ha of planting.
5.5 Seed Production
The crop flowers during November-December and seeds mature in next two months viz. February-March (dry season in Kerala). On an average, a healthy plant gives about 100-200 g of seeds.
5.6 Nursery Raising
The transplanting of nursery raised seedlings is found to be superior to direct sowing of seeds. The seeds are sown by hand on well prepared raised beds of 1m to 1.5m width at the onset of monsoon and are covered with a thin layer of soil. Seed germinates in 5-6 days and the seedlings are ready for transplanting after a period of 60 days.
5.7 Planting
Seedlings are planted at a distance of 40x40 cm., 40x30 cm., 40x60 cm. apart depending upon fertility of land and inter-culture implements used. It is better to plant on ridges in areas receiving high rainfall.
5.8 Irrigation
The newly bred varieties of lemongrass have water requirement for optimum yield. In northern India, 4-6 irrigations are given during summer months (February- June). If rains are erratic, the field is irrigated at an interval of 3 days during the first month and 7 - 10 day intervals subsequently.
5.9 Nutrition
It is recommended to apply 30 kg nitrogen, 30 kg P2 O5 and 30 kg K2O per ha basal dose at the time of planting. In Zinc deficient soils of Uttar Pradesh, 25 - 60 kg Zinc sulphate per ha. is applied.
5.10 Intercultural Operations
The field is kept weed free for the first 3 - 4 months after plating. Similarly, weeding cum hoeing is done up to 1 month, after every harvest. Generally, 2-3 weedings are necessary during a year. In row-planted crops, inter-operations can be done by a tractor-drawn cultivator or hand-hoe.