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Lemon Grass |
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Introduction
A tropical plant that can grow as high as 5 feet is native to Southern India and New Guinea. It contains an inviting essential oil, which has a scent of violets and lemons. We use the fleshy lower parts of the stem, crushed and sliced diagonally to flavor soups most deliciously.
| Products of Lemon Grass |
This is an aromatic grass that has clumped bulbous stems that become leaf blade. Stem and leaf are used in Thai cooking which have a distinct lemon flavor.Tea made from the |
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leaf is used to treat diarrhea stomachache headache fevers and flu. It is also acts as antiseptic. The essential oil is used in cosmetics, food and in aroma therapy, improves circulation and muscle tone. The antiseptic oil treats athlete’s foot and acne. As a spray it can reduce air born bacteria.
| Cultivation Practice |
SEASON : February – march is most suitable season in tropical lands for lemon grass planting. It can also be grown in July – August provided assured rains. Areas, which are prone to continuous water logging and calcareous soils, are not suitable for this crop.
SOILS : Laterite and red loamy soils are best suitable which are having pH levels 6-8. Heavy soils with good water sources can yield 5 cuttings yearly.
SPACING : Lemon grass being a shallow rooted plant will get maximum tiller number with a spacing of 1.5 * 2.00 feet between rows and within row which will accommodate 20,000 plants per acre under ridge furrow method.
LAND PREPARATION : Being a shallow rooted perennial it requires through soil preparation prior to planting. Drip ploughing once or twice to provide weed free, cleans and fines tilth ready for planting.
01) Add 10 tons compost, and 10 kg lindane per acre during last plough.
02) Prepare ridges at 1.5 feet distance 4 days before planting.
03) Apply chemical fertilizers 60 kg Nitrogen, 16 kg Phosphorus and 16 kg Potash, before planting and repeat after each cutting. |
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| Planting |
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- Generally planting is done in February – March under irrigated conditions, which will yield 20% more in the first year.
- Planting on slope of the ridges at 1.5 * 2.0 feet distance, which requires 20,000 slips per acre.
- 5-6 cm deep holes should be made with the help of pickax or crow bar. Put the slips and close the hole.
- Press the soil firmly around the slips.
- Remove the old and dried up leaves if present before planting.
- Ensure that slips should be planted vertically up.
- Water logging should not be there.
- Planting distance depends on the fertility of soil.
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| Irrigation |
| Irrigate the field through furrows before planting and after planting if there are no rains sufficient moisture should be retained for quick establishment. There after irrigate the field once in 10 days in red soils and once in 15 days in black soils. The field is kept weed free till a complete cover of crop is obtained. Earthling up of plants after about 4 months and again after every harvest is beneficial as the root region of Lemon grass has a tendency to grow above the soil. Topsoil should be loosened 6 weeks after planting and after every cutting with the help of hands hoes. No mechanical method is adapted. |
| Plant Protection |
| Termites : Is a major problem in virgin/fallow lands. B.H.C. or Lindane is recommended to control this pest.
Shoot fly : Attacks at 5 – 6 weeks after planting, results in stunted growth. Spray Dimethoate or Phorate granules at 4 – 5 kg acre.
Shite fly : A sap sucking insect occurs severely, during February – May months. Spray phosphamidon (2ml/lit) or Dimethoate (2.5ml/lit). RATA “ Slips and tender leaves are eaten away during early stages of plant growth and destroy the whole plant. Poison baits are recommended.
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| Harvesting |
| Lemon grass is a perennial under tropical conditions. It comes to maturity in the 5th month after planting provided optimum agroclimatic conditions. Cutting should be done 10-15 cm above the ground level which will enable easy and quick ratooning. Leaf growth starts immediately next day onwards. The next crop comes to maturity 90 days after 1st cutting, thereafter for every 90 days cuttings will continue upto 6 years. |
| Significant Points to Note |
- As a shallow rooted crop it requires fine tilth.
- Maintain optimum spacing to get max. tiller.
- Slips should be planted upright.
- Oil recovery depends on maturity of grass and fertilizer application.
- Ensure that fertilizer should contain Sulphur.
- Supply trace elements during maturity to get maximum oil recovery.
- Soil loosening is required after every cutting.
- Apply 50 kg of Amonium Sulfate after each cutting for quick growth.
- Avoid use of pesticides during 15 days prior to the harvest.
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