Lemon grass
- Thread starter abheyd
- Start date
manojsinghchandel
Well-Known Member
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.
Seed Production
The crop flowers during November-December and seeds mature in next two months viz. February-March (dry season in Kerala). For collection of seeds, the plants are maintained in good health as the yield of seeds from plants subjected to regular harvest is low. On an average, a healthy plant gives about 100-200 g of seeds. At the time of seed collection, the whole inflorescence is cut and sun dried for 2-3 days. These are then threshed and seeds are again dried in the sun and the seed remain attached with fluffy mass which is removed by beating of seed bag at sowing. These dry seed lots are stored in gunny bags lined with polythene. The seeds lose their viability if stored for a period more than one year.
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. Although 2.5 kg. of seed produce enough seedlings, the seed rate is 4-5kg/ha. The bed should be watered immediately after sowing and care should be taken to maintain adequate moisture in the soil. Seed germinates in 5-6 days and the seedlings are ready for transplanting after a period of 60 days.
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. In case of rooted slips one or two slips are placed into each hole, about 15 cm deep.
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. After the establishment of plants, irrigation schedule is adjusted depending on water holding capacity of the soil and weather conditions.
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. Remaining nitrogen (60 to 90 kg) can be applied as top-dressing in 3 to 4 split doses during the growing season. In soils having low fertility levels, the dose of nitrogen should be increased. In Zinc deficient soils of Uttar Pradesh, 25 - 60 kg Zinc sulphate per ha. is applied. Lemongrass crop is free from most pests or disease but may require micronutrients over marginal lands.
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. Distillation waste of this crop is applied as organic mulch @ 3 tonnes/ha and this is found effective for controlling weeds in the crop. Among herbicides, Diuron @ 1.5 kg ai/ha and Oxyfluorfen @ 0.5 kg ai/ha are effective for weed control. Lemongrass on establishment smoothen weeds.
Harvesting and Yield
Lemongrass flowers in winter season. The first harvest is generally obtained after 4 to 6 months of transplanting seedlings. Subsequent harvests are done at intervals of 60-70 days depending upon the fertility of the soil and other seasonal factors. Under normal conditions, three harvests are possible during the first year, and 3-4 in subsequent years, depending on the management practices followed. Harvesting is done with the help of sickles, the plants are cut 10 cm above ground-level and allowed to wilt in the field, before transporting to the distillation site.
Depending upon soil and climatic conditions, plantation lasts on an average, for 3-4 years only. The yield of oil is less during the first year but it increases in the second year and reaches a maximum in the third year; after this, the yield declines. On an average, 25 to 30 tonnes of fresh herbage are harvested per hectare per annum from 4 -6 cuttings, which yields about 80 kg of oil. Under irrigated conditions from newly bred varieties an oil yield of 100-150 kg/ha is obtained. The fresh herb contains on an average 0.3% oil and thick stems are removed before distillation as these are devoid of oil.
For Detailed Feasibility Project Report, Mail Us.
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.
Seed Production
The crop flowers during November-December and seeds mature in next two months viz. February-March (dry season in Kerala). For collection of seeds, the plants are maintained in good health as the yield of seeds from plants subjected to regular harvest is low. On an average, a healthy plant gives about 100-200 g of seeds. At the time of seed collection, the whole inflorescence is cut and sun dried for 2-3 days. These are then threshed and seeds are again dried in the sun and the seed remain attached with fluffy mass which is removed by beating of seed bag at sowing. These dry seed lots are stored in gunny bags lined with polythene. The seeds lose their viability if stored for a period more than one year.
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. Although 2.5 kg. of seed produce enough seedlings, the seed rate is 4-5kg/ha. The bed should be watered immediately after sowing and care should be taken to maintain adequate moisture in the soil. Seed germinates in 5-6 days and the seedlings are ready for transplanting after a period of 60 days.
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. In case of rooted slips one or two slips are placed into each hole, about 15 cm deep.
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. After the establishment of plants, irrigation schedule is adjusted depending on water holding capacity of the soil and weather conditions.
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. Remaining nitrogen (60 to 90 kg) can be applied as top-dressing in 3 to 4 split doses during the growing season. In soils having low fertility levels, the dose of nitrogen should be increased. In Zinc deficient soils of Uttar Pradesh, 25 - 60 kg Zinc sulphate per ha. is applied. Lemongrass crop is free from most pests or disease but may require micronutrients over marginal lands.
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. Distillation waste of this crop is applied as organic mulch @ 3 tonnes/ha and this is found effective for controlling weeds in the crop. Among herbicides, Diuron @ 1.5 kg ai/ha and Oxyfluorfen @ 0.5 kg ai/ha are effective for weed control. Lemongrass on establishment smoothen weeds.
Harvesting and Yield
Lemongrass flowers in winter season. The first harvest is generally obtained after 4 to 6 months of transplanting seedlings. Subsequent harvests are done at intervals of 60-70 days depending upon the fertility of the soil and other seasonal factors. Under normal conditions, three harvests are possible during the first year, and 3-4 in subsequent years, depending on the management practices followed. Harvesting is done with the help of sickles, the plants are cut 10 cm above ground-level and allowed to wilt in the field, before transporting to the distillation site.
Depending upon soil and climatic conditions, plantation lasts on an average, for 3-4 years only. The yield of oil is less during the first year but it increases in the second year and reaches a maximum in the third year; after this, the yield declines. On an average, 25 to 30 tonnes of fresh herbage are harvested per hectare per annum from 4 -6 cuttings, which yields about 80 kg of oil. Under irrigated conditions from newly bred varieties an oil yield of 100-150 kg/ha is obtained. The fresh herb contains on an average 0.3% oil and thick stems are removed before distillation as these are devoid of oil.
For Detailed Feasibility Project Report, Mail Us.