MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC CROPS (2+1)

Cultivation

Soil

Because of its hardy nature, the plant can be grown on a variety of soils. It can be seen growing successfully from sandy coastal soils to loamy soils of plains with a pH of up to 8.5. However, water logged conditions and problematic soils do not suit its cultivation.


Climate

It has wide adaptability and can grow in various climatic conditions. It can be seen growing equally good in warm humid or dry climate with even 150-200 cm to about 35-40 cm of rainfall per annum. It is usually cultivated between March and June. However, in dry regions, the crop should be provided with protective irrigation.


Propagation

It is generally propagated by root suckers or rhizome cuttings, for this purpose, medium sized root suckers are chosen and carefully dug out without damaging the parent plant at the base and directly planted in the main field. It can also be propagated through rhizome cuttings. In this case, after the harvest of the crop, the underground rhizome is also dug out and made in to 5-6 cm length cuttings which should have minimum 2-3 nodes on them. It is rooted in specially prepared sand beds or containers and after it has started sprouting, it is ready for transplanting.


Planting

The field should be prepared well before the onset of monsoon and small furrows opened. About 15-18 cm long root suckers or rhizome cuttings are planted at a spacing of 60x45 cm in such a way that two third portion of the planting material should be under the ground.


Manuring

It is a newly domesticated crop and its full production technology including manurial requirement is yet to be worked out. Application of a mixture of 150kg/ha of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus is recommended. The fertilizers are applied in the soil near the root system, after the plants are established.


Irrigation and weeding

Soon after planting, the land is irrigated. During the crop period, irrigation must be given according to the moisture status of the soil. Generally, 4 to 5 irrigations per year are sufficient. However, water should not be allowed to stagnate near plant. The land is kept weed free by weeding the plot as and when necessary.