Geranium: an aromatic herb grown for its oil
M.J. PRABU
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A net income of about one lakh can be expected from one hectare
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— Photo: CIMAP
MORE YIELD: From one hectare about 30 tonnes of fresh leaves can be harvested.
GERANIUM IS an aromatic herb, which is commercially cultivated for its oil called geranium oil. The oil is used for making perfumes, soaps and cosmetics.
Believed to be a native of South Africa, the crop was first introduced in India in Yercaud, Tamil Nadu during the early 20th century and is presently being cultivated in Bangalore, Hyderabad and Palani hills in Tamil Nadu.
Presently, the annual production in India is about 5 tonnes and about 150 tonnes of geranium oil is being imported annually.
High yielder
Researchers at the Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), Lucknow, have developed a new high yielding variety called CIM-Pawan, that is suitable for growing in Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal states of India.
The improved variety yields 20-25 per cent more herb and good quality oil. The crop is a bushy aromatic herb. The stem is green when young and turns brown with age.
Vegetative propagation
It thrives in well-drained porous soils. The crop is propagated through vegetative cuttings. The cuttings are raised in the nursery and then planted in the fields.
The ideal time for raising the nursery is during November-December. Fresh terminal cuttings of 15-20 cm length consisting of 6-8 nodes are taken from healthy geranium plants.
They are trimmed in shade leaving only the first 3-4 leaves at the terminal end. A slant cut is made just below the 6th or 7th node and the cuttings are dipped in 0.3 per cent mancozeb solution.
The nursery beds are also drenched with the solution and the cuttings are planted at a spacing of about 10cm between them. The beds are watered immediately.
Irrigation is done daily, twice during the first 3-4 days and once daily subsequently till the plants take root.
The nursery should be properly sheltered from direct sunlight to avoid wilting of the plants.
The cuttings are ready for transplanting in the main field in about two months after planting.
Rooted cuttings are carefully dug out from the nursery and planted immediately.
Before planting, the main field should be ploughed well into furrows by mixing 10 tonnes of farmyard manure and 40 kgs of phosphorus and potash each.
Irrigation schedule
Irrigation should be done on alternate days during the first week and later at an interval of 5-7 days. Weeding must be done 30 days after planting.
The crop responds well to macro and micronutrients. About 100-120 kg of urea is applied as side dressing in four split doses during the crop's growth. Blackgram, garlic, onion and peas can be planted as intercrops.
Geranium crop is harvested after 4-5 months of transplanting.
When the leaves start turning light green they exhibit a change from lemon like odour to that of rose.
The change in colour of leaves and odour are the main criteria for harvesting.
Green leafy shoots are harvested with a sharp sickle. The crop, after harvesting, is maintained by weeding, fertilizer application and irrigation.
It puts forth fresh shoots, grows fast and reaches a harvesting stage in about four months.
Though it can be maintained as a perennial crop, it is advisable to replant after two years as wilt disease affects the crop.
Leaf blight and root rot
The variety is found susceptible to leaf blight and root rot infestations. Spraying 0.3 per cent chlorothalonil solution at 12-25 days' interval is found effective in control of leaf blight infestation.
For checking spread of root rot, drenching the soil with 0.3 per mancozeb around the plant is found effective.
The cost of raising the plants in the nursery, fertilizers, transplanting and harvesting comes to about Rs. 40,000 in one year.
From one hectare about 30 tonnes of fresh leaves can be harvested, from which 30 kg of oil can be extracted, according to the researchers.
Oil price
The oil is priced at Rs. 3,200 to 3,500 per kg. Farmers can expect to earn an income of about Rs.1,00,000 from one hectare of crop with a net profit of about Rs. 60,000.
For more information readers can contact, The Director, Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants(CIMAP), Kukrail Picnic Spot Road, Lucknow 226 015, phone: 0522-2359625, email: director@cimap.res.in
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