MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC CROPS (2+1)

Cultivation

Soil
The plant requires slightly acidic to neutral soils for good growth with medium to deep well drained fertile soils. The ideal pH for this crop is from 4.6-6.2. Clay-loam to silt-loam soils, rich in organic content are suitable for its commercial cultivation.

Climate
Sarpagandha can be grown under a wide range of climatic conditions. A climate with a temperature range of 10-30oC seems to be well suited for this plant. It grows well in frost-free tropical to sub-tropical situations under irrigation.

Propagation
Sarpagandha can be propagated by seeds and also by vegetative means like root cuttings, stem cuttings, leaf cuttings and root stumps.

Seed propagation
Seed propagation is the best method for raising commercial plantation. Seed germination in Sarpagandha is highly variable. It is reported to vary from 5 to 30 percent even when only heavy seeds are chosen for sowing purpose. Light and heavy seeds can easily be separated by simple water floatation. Germination of heavy seeds during May-June after soaking them in water for 24 hours was 20-40 per cent and 62.77 per cent germination was recorded in freshly collected heavy seed lot. In all, 6 kg of seeds are sufficient to raise one-hectare plantation.
In Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, April end, in West Bengal first week of May or little later, and in Jammu & Dehradun during third week of May are found to be most suitable time for sowing seed in the nursery. The nursery is prepared by raised beds of 10 x 10 m dimension under partial shade made up of one-third of well matured FYM and leaf mould, and two-thirds amount medium of silt-loam soil. About 500 sq m seed bed area is sufficient for raising seedlings enough for planting one hectare land. The seeds sown, 2-3 cm apart in rows in shallow furrows during April end. The furrows are then covered with a fine mixture of soil and FYM. Keep the beds just moist by light irrigation. Germination starts after 15-20 days and continues up to 30 to 40 days.

Root cutting
Nearly 5 cm long root cutting are planted during spring season closely in nursery beds containing well manured FYM, sand and saw-dust. The beds are kept moist through watering. The cuttings begin to sprout within 3 weeks. These can be planted in field during rainy season after 8 to 10 cm rains are received; the seedlings are transplanted at 45 cm row to row and 30 cm plant to plant distance. In this manner, an estimated 100 kg of root cuttings are found sufficient for planting one hectare area.

Stem cuttings
Hard wooded stem cutting measuring 15 to 22 cm are closely planted during June in the nursery beds where continuous moisture is maintained. After sprouting and giving out roots, these plants are transplanted in the main field at given spacing.

Root stumps
About 5 cm of roots, intact with a portion of stem above the collar, are directly transplanted in the field having irrigation facilities.

Transplanting
Seedlings of 40-50 days, which have 4-6 leaves, are ready for transplanting. Well decomposed FYM@ 25 -30 t/ha is added during land preparation. The seedlings are transplanted in the furrows. About 15 cm deep furrows are dug at a distance of 45cm. A spacing of 30 cm between the plants should be maintained.

Manures and fertilizers
Application of 25-30 tonnes of well decomposed FYM at the time of land preparation and 10kg N, 60 kg P2O5 and 30 kg K2O per hectare as a basal dose. Later two equal doses of N, each of 10kg/ha in moist soil is given at 50 days and 170 days after planting.

Irrigation
Sarpagandha, if grown in areas which receive rainfall of 150 cm or above well distributed throughout the growing season such as in Assam and Kerala, can be raised and rain-fed crop under subtropical conditions. It needs regular irrigation where temperature rise high combined with low rain fall during rainy season. It is suggested that 15 to 16 irrigations, amounts to irrigation at 20 days interval in summer and at 30 days interval in winter.

Weeding
The sarpagandha field should be kept relatively weed-free in the initial period of growth. This means giving two to three weedings and two hoeings in the first year where sole crop is taken or 5-6 weeding where intercrops in sarpagandha are practiced.

Intercropping
It is possible to grow intercrops in Sarpagandha plantations particularly were good irrigation facilities are available. Soya beans and onions or Soya bean and garlic can be intercropped in Sarpagandha plantations.