Lemongrass

Scientific Name

Cymbopogon

5.0-8.5

Temperature

10-33oC

Rainfall

250-280cm

Sowing Time

March - April

Seed Rate

1.6 - 2 kg/acre

Spacing

60 cm x 60 cm spacing for seedlings and 90 cm x 60 cm spacing for slips

Fertilizer Application

24:20:14 kg NPK kg/ha

Weeding

hand weeding and hoeing to keep field weed free. Mulching is also an effective way to reduce soil temperature along with weed control.

Weed Management

Application of organic mulch @1200 kg/acre. 2-3 weeding should be done in one year. Some organic control should be done such as UV radiation and flame weeding.

Irrigation

In summer season, apply irrigation with interval of 4-6 irrigations. When rains are not in regular pattern then apply irrigation with interval of 3 days in first month and then with the interval of 7-10 days. 4-6 irrigations are necessary for the crop during summer months.

Harvesting Index

Harvesting is done at the interval of 60-70 days.

Harvesting

Sickles are used for harvesting. The harvesting start in May and ends in January month. With the help of sickle, grass is cut at 10-15 cm above from the ground level for harvesting.

Post Harvest Activities

lemongrass is dipped in sodium chloride solution for 24 hours as it will increase the citral content in crop, followed by distillation. Then grass is stored in shady place and is packed

Marketing

Lemon grass has wide range of therapeutic and antimicrobial value. Its leaves are mainly used for preparing various drugs.

Insect

Stem boring caterpillar, Nematodes.

Disease

Long smut, Red Leaf Spot, Leaf Blight, Rust, Little Leaf or Grassy shoot