Introduction to grwoing Safed Musli
The following information about Growing Safed Musli and Planting Methods.
This is one of the herbs which are popularly used in medicines. The Safed Musli is also used as a leafy vegetable in some parts of India. It originated from Chlorophytum genus. It belongs to Asparagaceae family. Safed Musli is scientifically named as Chlorophytum Borivilianum. The other parts of plants like leaves, roots and stems are also used in the treatment. One should ensure good management practices of good yield of the plant. The plant has good and beneficial properties of Ayurvedic medicine. This is one of the commercial crops which have high demand in the market. These are mostly cultivated in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, foot Hills of Uttaranchal, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Karnataka.
Characteristics of Safed Musli:
Roots: The roots of the plant are used in various medicines. Roots are in clusters as they contain black seeds.
Plant: The plant grows up to a height of 1 – 1.5 ft.
Flower: The plants bloom yellow or green in colour, flowers which are in star shape they are 2 cm across.
Fruit: The fruits of this plant are greenish – yellow in colour, these are mainly produced in the month of July – December.
Properties of Safed Musli:
- Fiber: 25 – 35%
- Alkaloids: 15 – 25%
- Proteins: 5 – 10 %
- Carbohydrates: 35 – 45 %
- Saponins: 2 – 20 %
Cultivars/varieties of Safed Musli:
- Jawahar Safed Musli
- Rajvijay Safed Musli
Soil and Climate requirements for Growing Safed Musli:
The soil, which is required for Growing Safed Musli is well drained loam – sandy, loamy soil which contains high organic matter. In favour of luxuriant vegetation growth the soil should contain a good and high amount of moisture in humid and warm climatic conditions. As this will help the plant in good growth and also facilitate good root development. The pH level, which should be ranged, is 6.5 – 8.5. The water logging should be avoided as this may lead to damage of the roots and their development. Heavy soils are also not suitable for Growing Safed Musli.
The temperature, which is required for growing Safed Musli is 15 – 35 C, the rainfall should range from 50 – 150 cm. The warm and humid climate is more suitable for these plants.
Land preparation and Planting for Growing Safed Musli:
For better pulverization of the soil, the soil should be ploughed several times as it attains fine and smooth texture. This ploughing should be done in the month of May. We should make sure that the soil attains fine tilth. After ploughing, tillering should be done in the same month. Before doing all this, the weeds, unwanted material of previous crop, and stones should be removed from the field. Green manure and farmyard manure should be applied to the soil to improve organic matter in the soil.
These will grow better in raised beds, after preparing the land raised beds for the plants should be prepared at a distance of 24 inches and with a height of 12 inches, as this will help the plant to prevent to cause water logging. Before planting the plant irrigation should be given to the beds.
Read: Spirulina Farming.
Propagation method for Growing Safed Musli:
The propagation of Safed Musli can be done through seed propagation and vegetative propagation. But the seed propagation is more preferred.
Seed Propagation: The seeds of Safed Musli are black in colour, with angular edges. They will be sprouted within 12 – 16 days. The seeds should be sown in beds and they should be sown with heavily manured farmyard manure or leaf litter in the 1st and 2nd week after planting i.e. in the month of June. During the absence of rainfall the land should be moisture adequate. After the seedlings are raised, then they should be transplanted in the field during the season of Kharif with a spacing of 30 * 15 cm as this will help the plant to develop their roots.
Manure and Fertilization method in Growing Safed Musli:
The farmyard manure of 10 – 15 tonnes per hectare of land, the soil should be provided with good nutrients to the soil. Before all this soil test should be done so that we will now the requirement of micro and macro nutrients of the soil.
Irrigation methods in Growing Safed Musli:
After receipt of rains the seeds should be sown. Even in rainy season the water should be given regularly without water logging. Even after the dropping of leaves the irrigation should be given. A good drainage system should be there in the field as this will help in avoiding the water – logging. For irrigating the field drip irrigation is more preferred.
Intercultural methods in Growing Safed Musli:
Weeding: The weeding should be done regularly as it will avoid the occurrence of pest and diseases.
Pruning: The unwanted stems, leaves and branches should be removed so that there will a space for penetration of air into the plant.
Mulching: The pruned leaves, weed plants can be used in mulching as it will help the soil to conserve the moisture.
Intercropping: The Safed Musli can be intercropped with Teak, Mango, Neem, Paulownia, Banana and papaya.
Pest and Diseases control measures in Growing Safed Musli:
The leaves of this plant should be protected from pests and diseases as this will help us to obtain optimum yields.
Major Pests:
- White grub
- Leaf eating caterpillar
Major Diseases:
- Red spot
- Leaf blight
Schedule:
- For controlling the leaf eating caterpillars, the Metacid aqueous solution should be sprayed in 0.2 %at 15 days interval.
- To control the diseases we should spray Bavistin solution @ 1 g per litre of water at 25 days.
- During the land preparation, at the last ploughing Aldrin @ 25 kg per hectare should be applied for controlling the White grub.
Harvesting techniques of Safed Musli:
After planting, the crop gets matured for 3 months. When the crop gets matured the colour of the leaf changes from yellow and they get dry from the collar part and they fall down. The temperature that is required for harvesting the crop is 20 – 25 C. When the leaves get dry, then the harvesting should be done, this taken place in the month of September – October.
Post harvesting techniques of Safed Musli:
Cleaning: After harvesting, they should be cleaned as the tuber should be removed from the soil, as it contains more mud on the tuber. They should be cleaned properly and should be peeled.
Peeling: Â Peel only that tubers without crown. After peeling the material should be resown. By peeling tuber helps it will be dried easily and there are also various methods of peeling.
Drying: Once they are peeled, the Musli should be dried of the moisture content; it should loss all the moisture in it. For Musli it takes 7 days for drying.
Packing: After it gets completely dry, then it should be packed in poly bags.
Yield of Safed Musli:
The average yield of the fresh Safed Musli will be then quintals per hectare, after drying and processing it will be reduced to 200 kg.