Hii
Rauvolfia root or Serpentine root is one of the important crude drugs used in modern medicine.
The plant grows in a wide variety of soils, from sandy alluvial loam to red lateritic loam
with large percentage of humus and acidic in reaction. The ideal pH for this crop is from
4.6 – 6.5. It prefers hot humid climate, humus rich sandy loam soil. A climate with a
temperature range of 10 – 300C seems to be well suited for this plant. The best areas,
which combine high rainfall with properly drained soil.
Variety
(i) Local collection from wild
(ii) Jawahar Lal Neheru Krishi Viswa Vidyalaya has developed one improved
variety-R.S-1. The seed viability remain upto 50-60 % after 7 months of storage and yield about 2.5 t/dry roots/ ha. In this variety the alkaloid content has been found 1.64 – 2.94 % at 18 months growth.
Propagation
Seed propagation is best method for commercial plantation.
Manures and fertilizers
FYM @ 20-25 MT/ha should be applied during land preparation. After planting N,P & K at the
rate 10:60:30 kg/ha is applied as basal dose. Later two equal doses of N each of 10 kg /ha in moist soil may be applied at 50 days and 170 days after planting.
Harvesting
The marketable roots are generally collected 2-3 years after plantation preferably after 30
months of planting. When transplanting is done during June-July harvesting period coincides
with shedding of leaves during early autumn. At this stage root contains maximum
concentration of total alkaloids. During harvest the roots may be found to go up to 40 cm
deep in the soil. During root harvesting the thin roots are also collected. Care should be
taken to keep the root bark intact as the bark constitutes 40-56 % of the whole root and has a higher alkaloid content. In general during winter months plants remain dormant, is
considered ideal for harvesting.
The average yield of Rauvolfia dry Harvested roots is approximately 2000-2500 kg/ha under average management when harvested at 30 months.
Economics of cultivation
1. Cost of seed @ Rs. 2000 x 5 kg -10000
2. Nursery raising-1500
3. Land preparation-6000
4. Organic manure & application cost-10000
5. Cost of transplanting-2500
5. For Irrigation L.S-2000
6. Weeding, hoeing and light earthing up-6000
7. Plant protection-1500
8. Maintenance cost for 20 months-2500
8. Harvesting & carrying, processing etc-8000
Total- Rs 50 000
Yield — 2000 Kg. Dry roots at 30 months
Gross return @ Rs. 80/- per Kg. (2000 x 80) ........ . . Rs 160000
Total cost of production
............Rs. 50,000
Net return from 30 months cycle crop harvesting----Rs. 1,10,000
Regards
Ashwini
