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Kalmegh |
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| Common Name : King of Bitters English |
Name : The Creat, Sanskrit |
Scientific name : Andrographis Paniculata
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Hindi name : Kalmegh |
| Family : Acanthaceae |
Part used : Herbage |
| Telugu Name : Nelavemu |
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Introduction
The plant is well known as “Kalmegh” it is a principal herb in the domestic medicine called “Alui”, which is given to infants. It is an erect annual herb, 0.3 – 1.0m in height, seeds numerous yellowish brown.
| Soil and Climatic Consideration |
a) SOIL :
It can be cultivated on wide variety of soils ranging from loam to |
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lateritic soils with moderate fertility. However, well drained, red sandy – loam soils rich in organic matter content is best suited for its cultivation.
b) CLIMATE :
It is a crop of tropical and subtropical regions having well distributed rainfall. However, the plant is susceptible to frost.
c) LAND PREPARATION :
The field should be repeatedly ploughed in May – June and should be bought to a fine tilth. Weeds and stubbles of the previous crop if any should be removed.
d) SOWING :
It can be propagated either through seeds or cuttings but seeds are preferred. Seeds are small and dormant for about five to six months. They are either sown directly or seedlings are raised in the nursery and then transplanted to the main field. About 2-2.5 kgs seed is require dfor one hectare area. Mature seeds are viable upto 6 months.
For direct sowing, furrows are opened 30 cm apart. Seeds are covered with a mixture of soil and compost and around 3 – 4 seeds are sown in each spot maintaining a distance of 15 cms between the plant. |
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Seedlings are raised either by sowing the seeds in polythene bags filled with mixture if sand, soil and organic matter in 1:1:1 ratio or by broad casting the seeds in rows on the raised nursery beds if size 3x1.5x1.5m. Fully decomposed FYM is added at the rate of 20 kgx/sq.m in the nursery bed and mixed well and seeds are sown irrigation if necessary after sowing. Seeds begin to germinate in about 8 – 10 days. It is advisable to cover the seeds beds lightly with straw so as to conserve moisture. Seedlings should be maintained up to 15th June. |
e) TRANSPLANTING :
Six week old seedlings are ready for transplanting and are planted at a spacing of 30x15 cm or 15x12 cm in the main field. 15x15 cms spacing ensures higher yields. Around 2 lakh seedlings are required to raise one hectare of land. The best season of planting this crop is during the month of June. When the plant puts up maximum growth and gives the highest yield.
f) FERTILIZER :
FYM at the rate of 10 tones/ha and 75:75:50 kg/ha of N:P:K are recommended. Nitrogen application may split in two doses, which can applied at an interval of 30 to 40 days. It is better if 25 tones of FYM/ha is applied at pre-planting period.
g) IRRIGATION :
Andrographis is mainly grown as rainy season crop. Irrigation is required at least once in a day after transplanting upto 3-4 days. Thereafter irrigation is given as and when necessary (once or twice a week) till maturity.
h) INTER CULTURE OPERATIONS :
It is a small herb and hence the competition with green during the initial stages of growth is avoided by keeping the land free from weeds. First weeding is done 20 – 30 days after planting and subsequently one or two weedings after 60 days of sowing. In all about 4-5 weedings are required during the entire crop growth period.
i) PLANT PROTECTION :
No serious pests and diseases have been observed on this crop. |
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Harvest and Post Harvest
The crop is ready for the first harvest after about 90-120 days of sowing when the plants have flowered as andrographolide content is high at this stage. The plants are cut at the base leaving about 10 – 15 cms stem for plant regeneration. The second and final harvest is taken up 60 days after the first harvest. After harvesting the plants are dried in shade for 3 – 4 days before storage this prevents from fungal infection.
It flowers during August – November and whole plant starts maturing during February – March when it is harvested for the |
drug, in Andhra Pradesh, it is collected during November – January. The whole plant is dried in shade and sold. The crude drug consists of dried or fresh leaves or the aerial portions of the plant. Sometimes, the whole plant, including the roots, is used.
YIELD : The average yield of about 4 to 5 tons dry herb per hectare is obtained.
DURATION OF CROP : 90 to 120 days.
PHARMACOLOGY :
The herb is well known drug Kalmegh “Green Chireta”, and forms the principal ingredient of reputed household medicine (Alui), used as bitter tonic and febrifuge. It is official in I.P. and also employed in Ayurveda and Homeopathy. The herb is reported to possess astringent, anodyne, tonic and alexipharmic properties, and is helped in arresting dysentery, cholera, diabetes, influenza, bronchitis, swelling and itches, piles and gonorrhea. A decoctionofplant is a blood-purifier, it is used as a cure for torpid liver, and jaundice, it forms, the major constituent of Ayurvedic drug SG-1, Switradilepa which is effective in treating vitiligo – a dermatological disease. The macerated leaves and jiice together with certain spices, such as cardamom, clove and cinnamom, are made into pills and prescribed for relief stomach ailments in infants. |
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