satyanarayan gupta
New Member
Dear Friends,
Please find information regarding stevia cultivation as well as economics for your kind reference.
CULTIVATION OF STEVIA
Family: Asteraceae
Botanical Name: Stevia rebaudiana
Origin: Northeastern Paraguay
Uses: calorie free sweetner, reduces elevated blood pressure, sugar substitute for diabetic
patients.
Climate requirements: It is a semi humid sub tropical plant & can be grown in temperature
between 11-38c. A long growing season, minimal frost, high light intensity & warm temperature
favors higher leaf production. Stevia can be success fully cultivated all around the year all over
India except the areas, which receive snowfall or temperatures go below 5 Degree centigrade in
winter. The summer temperatures actually do not affect these plants if the high summer
temperatures have already been factored in the cultivation practices.
Soil: Stevia requires very good drainage any soils that retain the moisture for very long period of
time are unsuitable for Stevia cultivation and should be religiously avoided. Similarly black
cotton soils with very heavy clay content should also be avoided.
Water: Stevia requires ample supply of good quality water all year around. Sprinkler irrigation is
effective system. Use of any types of sprinklers would increase the incidence of bacterial
infestation.
Varieties: There are about 90 varieties of Stevia Rebaudiana developed all around world. The
Stevioside and Rebaudiocide content in the Stevia leaves that determine the price and
marketability of Stevia leaves. it becomes imperative that the grower select proper varieties with
adequate guarantees from the planting material suppliers about minimum assured Stevioside
and Rebaudioci decontents.
Planting Material: There are basically two options for multiplication. The first is the tissue culture
and second the stem cutting. The tissue culture is the best option.
Manures & fertilizers: a fertilizer dose of 60:30:45 kg NPK/Hectare has been found best for its
optimum growth and higher dry leaf yield.
Deflowering: deflowering should bo done at 30, 45, 60, 75 and 85 days after transplanting and
again at harvest time in order to facilitate more vegetative growth.
Diseases: 1) Septoria steviae:It is characterized by depressed, angular, shiny olive gray lesions.
2) Sclerotinia sclerotiorum : It is characterized by brown lesions on the stem followed by wilting
and eventually by the complete collapse of the affected plant.
3) Boron deficiency
Harvesting: The crop attains the stage of first harvest after 3 months of planting. While
harvesting 5-8 cm of stem from the ground level should be left behind to facilitate the
regeneration of plant. the subsequent harvest can be done at 90days interval. In one year 4
harvests can be done.
Post harvest technology & yield: After harvesting, the leaves have to be stripped off from the
branches and spread in a thin layer and dried in the shade till they attain a constant weight.
Approximately 1.25-1.50-tones/ acre of dry leaf yield can be obtained from each harvest. Totally
4-5 tones/acre of dried leaves can be obtained in one year.
The stevioside content in the leaves varies from 3-10 % on the dry weight basis.
Yours Truely
Satyanarayan Gupta
Please find information regarding stevia cultivation as well as economics for your kind reference.
CULTIVATION OF STEVIA
Family: Asteraceae
Botanical Name: Stevia rebaudiana
Origin: Northeastern Paraguay
Uses: calorie free sweetner, reduces elevated blood pressure, sugar substitute for diabetic
patients.
Climate requirements: It is a semi humid sub tropical plant & can be grown in temperature
between 11-38c. A long growing season, minimal frost, high light intensity & warm temperature
favors higher leaf production. Stevia can be success fully cultivated all around the year all over
India except the areas, which receive snowfall or temperatures go below 5 Degree centigrade in
winter. The summer temperatures actually do not affect these plants if the high summer
temperatures have already been factored in the cultivation practices.
Soil: Stevia requires very good drainage any soils that retain the moisture for very long period of
time are unsuitable for Stevia cultivation and should be religiously avoided. Similarly black
cotton soils with very heavy clay content should also be avoided.
Water: Stevia requires ample supply of good quality water all year around. Sprinkler irrigation is
effective system. Use of any types of sprinklers would increase the incidence of bacterial
infestation.
Varieties: There are about 90 varieties of Stevia Rebaudiana developed all around world. The
Stevioside and Rebaudiocide content in the Stevia leaves that determine the price and
marketability of Stevia leaves. it becomes imperative that the grower select proper varieties with
adequate guarantees from the planting material suppliers about minimum assured Stevioside
and Rebaudioci decontents.
Planting Material: There are basically two options for multiplication. The first is the tissue culture
and second the stem cutting. The tissue culture is the best option.
Manures & fertilizers: a fertilizer dose of 60:30:45 kg NPK/Hectare has been found best for its
optimum growth and higher dry leaf yield.
Deflowering: deflowering should bo done at 30, 45, 60, 75 and 85 days after transplanting and
again at harvest time in order to facilitate more vegetative growth.
Diseases: 1) Septoria steviae:It is characterized by depressed, angular, shiny olive gray lesions.
2) Sclerotinia sclerotiorum : It is characterized by brown lesions on the stem followed by wilting
and eventually by the complete collapse of the affected plant.
3) Boron deficiency
Harvesting: The crop attains the stage of first harvest after 3 months of planting. While
harvesting 5-8 cm of stem from the ground level should be left behind to facilitate the
regeneration of plant. the subsequent harvest can be done at 90days interval. In one year 4
harvests can be done.
Post harvest technology & yield: After harvesting, the leaves have to be stripped off from the
branches and spread in a thin layer and dried in the shade till they attain a constant weight.
Approximately 1.25-1.50-tones/ acre of dry leaf yield can be obtained from each harvest. Totally
4-5 tones/acre of dried leaves can be obtained in one year.
The stevioside content in the leaves varies from 3-10 % on the dry weight basis.
Yours Truely
Satyanarayan Gupta