Palmarosa

Plant Name- Palmarosa

Scientific Name- Cymbopogon Martini

Family- Poaceae

Hindi Name- Gandabel, Gandhej, and Rosha

Palmarosa is a wild plant whose fragrant leaves, stems, and flowers are used to extract oil that has several medicinal and health properties. Its antiviral, antibacterial, and antiseptic properties are used in aromatherapy to relax muscles and alleviate stress, fatigue, anxiety, nervousness, and anger.   

Uses of Palmarosa

• Palmarosa has several therapeutic as well as health benefits.

• Palmarosa essential oil is used as a facial skin care product because of its natural antiseptic properties that help reduce wrinkles, and sun damage, and heal broken capillaries.

• Palmarosa essential oil has antiviral and antiseptic properties that reduce fevers and fight bacterial infections.

• Palmarosa essential oil promotes healthy digestion.

Location

Palmarosa crop is native to India and grows in the wild in the forests of Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra. It is also found, however, in small quantities in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. Commercial cultivation of palmarosa crops has expanded to the following states: Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Gujrat.

Climate

• Palmarosa requires high temperature, humidity, and plenty of sunshine during its growing period to grow well.

• The Palmarosa crop requires at least 90-150 cm of rainfall annually.

• The ideal temperature for the palmarosa crop is somewhere between 15 to 35°C.

• Areas, where crops are prone to frosting, are not suitable for the cultivation of palmarosa.

Land requirements

• In the wild, palmarosa tends to grow on a wide range of soils from poor sandy loam to heavy fertile soils.

• When it is grown commercially, to cultivate a high yield of palmarosa grass, cultivators require well-drained loamy souls that are rich in organic matter and nutrients.

• Soils that have poor drainage will not only result in a poor yield but will also produce less oil.

• Commercial cultivators are recommended to test their soil’s fertility levels before sowing palmarosa seeds.

• For a good yield, the pH range of the soil should be somewhere between 6.5 to 7.5.

Soil Preparation

• Prepare the soil by plowing the land 2 to 3 times to produce a fine tilth before sowing.

• To ensure proper water drainage trowel and level the field.

• Enrich the soils with at least 8 to 10 tonnes of manure.

• Remove all of the stubble and weeds before sowing.

Sowing Method

• Palmarosa plant is propagated by seeds and slips. However, for commercial purposes, the crop is propagated by seeds.

• The best way to grow palmarosa on a large scale is by raising seedlings in a nursery and transplanting them in the main field.

• In the nursery, the optimum way to grow the seedlings is in lines that are 15 to 20 cm apart on a raised nursery bed. In 3 to 4 weeks transplant the seedlings just before the onset of monsoon.

• The seedlings should be transplanted in the field during the monsoon in rows 30 to 60 cm apart and with each seedling spaced 30 to 60 cm away within the rows.

• Make sure that the seedlings are planted firmly but not very deep in the soil.

• To avoid transplantation shock, transplant the seedlings in the evening.

• Irrigate the seedlings lightly after transplanting and fill the faps after 10 to 12 days of planting.

• To avoid seedling mortality, plant 2 seedlings per hill.

Irrigation

• Palmarosa is a versatile crop that can be grown in both good spots of rain as well as under irrigated conditions.

• This crop’s capacity to absorb water as well as the frequency of irrigation depends upon the climate along with the soil’s capacity to hold moisture.

• It is recommended to irrigate the crop every 10 to 12 days when it is grown in a place with dry heat during the summer.

• Do not overwater your crop. Only irrigate when the soil feels a little dry to the touch.

• Cultivators are also recommended to not water the plant 7 to 8 days before harvesting it.

Fertilizers                

• Palmarosa crop requires a lot of nutrients. Therefore, it is important to frequently replenish the soul with farm yard manure and/or compost that has high concentrations of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous.

• Fertilizers are applied at 10 tonnes per hectare.

• While fertilizers rich in phosphorous and potassium are applied to the soil as the basal dose and after the first harvest, nitrogen fertilizers are applied as a basal dose, one month after transplanting, and two doses after each harvest.

Pest and Disease Management

• The palmarosa crop is at risk of being infested by insect pests such as aphids, thrips, white grub, and termites.

• To prevent and control the infestation of aphids and thrips, spray Azadirachtin 1%.

• To control the infestation of white grubs, flood the field with irrigation water.

• Termites can also be managed by flooding the soil. However, in severe cases of infestation, add 20 EC of Chlorpyriphos to irrigation water and then flood the field.

• The palmarosa plant is prone to a serious disease called Ellisiella caudate which can cause considerable loss in the production of leaves and essential oils. This disease can be effectively managed by spraying 1 % Bordeaux mixture at intervals of 15 days.

• It is also susceptible to developing Curvularia blotch which causes the premature drying of leaves. This disease is also treated by spraying 1 % Bordeaux mixture at intervals of 15 days.

Harvest and Yield

• To get a high yield of oil, it is important to harvest the palmarosa plant at the right stage.

• The crop is ready to be harvested after 3 months of planting at least or when the crop has fully flowered and is approaching the seed production stage.

• The crop is harvested by using a sickle at 15 to 20 cm above the ground surface.

• It is best to harvest the crop in dry weather and when it is out outside during the day. Do not harvest either during the monsoons or when there is dew on the ground.

• Allow the harvested plant to wilt in the shade for 3 to 4 days before it is sent to be processed for oil extraction.

• Under ideal farming conditions, palmarosa cultivation can produce a fresh yield of 30 to 40 tonnes per year per hectare.

• After harvesting, the crop is processed to obtain the maximum yield of essential oil. To facilitate this, the palmarosa plant is cleaned and chopped into 5 to 10-cm long pieces.