Mucuna
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4.0 Agri Practices
4.1 Soil & Climate:
Tropical and sub-tropical climates are suitable for the growth of Mucuna pruriens. It is sensitive to frost and frost prone areas and can withstand drought. A wide range of soils are suited for this species. However, well drained sandy to clay loam soils are best suited.
4.2 Land Preparation:
The field is ploughed 2-3 times to a fine tilth and later divided into beds of convenient size. Support plants, which are fast growing in nature, are required to enable this twine to climb. These plants may vary based on climatic conditions Sesbania grandiflora, Jatropha curcas, Moringa oleifera, Bambusa arundinaceum are few of them. Shade plants like Gloriosa superba and Rauvolfia serpentina can also be grown. The support plants are maintained carefully for a year. In the second year, Kaunch seeds are planted in June-July close to these.
4.3 Propagation : Direct sowing of seeds is done at a spacing of 60 cm within rows with support plants. In case the support plants are not grown the spacing should be 60 x 45 cm. Seeds are dibbled on the slope of the ridges. Seeds take 8-10 days to sprout.
4.4 Fertilizer:
FYM 15t and 100, 80 and 75 kg N, P and K per hectare are the recommended doses of fertilizer out of which, entire quantity of FYM and Phosphorus are applied at the time of land preparation. Nitrogen and Potash are applied in two equal splits at 30 and 60 days after sowing.
4.5 Irrigation:
Initially irrigation is required at an interval of 4 days and later increased to 7 days interval. One to two weedings are required for the crop in the initial stages. Weeding in the later stages coincides with the time of top dressing of fertilizers.
4.6 Plant Protection:
In order to control leaf eating caterpillar, 0.2 % Metacid is sprayed at fortnightly interval. Leaf spot can be controlled by spraying 20g Dithane M-45 in 10 L of water at weekly intervals.
4.7 Harvesting:
Within one month, the plant climbs on to the support trees. Flowers come out in October- November and pods by December-January. In 170-180 days duration the crop is ready for harvest which takes place 3-4 times in the season. It is essential to use gloves while harvesting the pods as they are covered with bristly hairs which produce intense itching.
5.0 Post harvest operations
5.1 Drying:
The harvested pods are collected, sun dried and seeds separated. These seeds are packed separately. In the last week of January, the roots are taken out.
6.0 Yield:
On average the seeds are produced @ 20-25 t per hectare, priced at Rs. 60-80 per kg. In addition 0.2 – 0.4 t roots are also obtained fetching a price of Rs. 50-60 per kg.
7.0 Economics of cultivation per hectare land
Kaunch cultivation yields an average net income of Rs. 80,000 – 120,000 per ha.
8 .0 Addresses of Some Dealers in Medicinal plants/ Planting material
Tropical Forest Research Institute
Mandla Road , Jabalpur (M.P.)
Cedmap
60, Jail Road , Jahangirabad,
Bhopal (M.P.)
KRD Musli Farm,10/47, Station Road , Rau,
Indore-453331 (M.P.)
Mittal Musli Farm and Research Centre,
Jamod, Jalgaon ( Maharashtra )
Regional Research Laboratory
Jorhat ( Assam )
Jeevan Herbs & Agro Farms
178, Keshav Ganj, Sagar (M.P.)
SSS Biotic.com
C/o biosourcing.com (P)Ltd.
A-41, Janpath, Ashoknagar
Bhubaneswar (Orissa)
Kasiraj Exports,
37, Santhai Road ,
Tuticorin (TN)
A.Y. Agritec Private Limited
16-7-382/18, Azampura Masjid,
Hyderabad (A.P.)