ASHWAGANTHA

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), also known as Indian ginseng, is an important ancient plant, the roots of which have been employed in Indian traditional systems of medicine, Ayurveda and Unani.  It is an erect branching undershrub reaching about 1.50 m in height.  It grows in dry and sub-tropical regions. Being hardy and drought tolerant species with its enormous biocompounds, its usage is forever regarded and continuous to enjoy the monopoly in many parts of India, particularly in Madhya Pradesh.  It grows in dry parts in sub-tropical regions.  Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh are the major Ashwagandha producing states of the country.  In Madhya Pradesh alone it is cultivated in more than 5000 hectare.  The estimated production of Ashwagandha roots in India is more than 1500 tonnes and the annual requirement is about 7000 tonnes necessitating the increase in its cultivation and higher production.

Medicinal properties and use
Ashwagandha is considered to be one of the best rejuvenating agents in Ayurveda. Its roots, seeds and leaves are used in Ayurvedic and Unani medicines.  Ashwagandha root drug finds an important place in treatment of rheumatic pain, inflammation of joints, nervous disorders and epilepsy.  Dried roots are used as tonic for hiccup, cold, cough, female disorders, as a sedative, in care of senile debility, ulcers, etc.  Leaves are applied for carbuncles, inflammation and swellings.  Leaf juice is useful in conjunctivitis.  Bark decoction is taken for asthma and applied locally to bed sores.  Ashwagandha and its extracts are used in preparation of herbal tea, powders, tablets and syrups.

Soil 
Ashwagandha grows well in sandy loam or light red soil having pH 7.5 to 8.0 with good drainage.  Black soils or such heavy soils are suitable for cultivation.

Climate
It is grown as late rainy season (kharif) crop.  The semi-tropical areas receiving 500 to 750 mm rainfall are suitable for its cultivation as rainfed crop.  If one or two winter rains are received, the root development improves.  The crop requires relatively dry season during its growing period.  It can tolerate a temperature range of 200C to 380C and even low temperature as low as 100C.  The plant grows from sea level to an altitude of 1500 meter above sea level.  

Varieties 
The Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwavidyalay, Madhya Pradesh, has released one high alkaloid variety "Jawahar" which is short in stature and most amenable for high density planting.  The variety yields in 180 days and yields a total withanolides content of 0.30 per cent in dry roots.

Nursery raising 
It is propagated by seeds . Fresh seeds are sown in well prepared nursery beds.  Although it can be sown by broadcast method in the main field, transplanting method is preferred for better quality and export purpose.  For export, a well maintained nursery is a prerequisite.  The nursery bed usually raised from ground level is prepared by thorough mixing with compost and sand.  About 5 kg of seeds are required for planting in 1 hectare of the mainfield.  Nursery is raised in the month of June-July.  Seeds are treated in carbendazim to control wilt and seed borne diseases.  Seeds are sown just before the onset of monsoon and covered thinly using sand.  The seeds germinate in 5 to 7 days.  About 35 days old seedlings are transplanted in the main field. 

Field preparation 
2 to 3 ploughing and discing and /or harrowing should be done before rains.  The land is well ploughed and pulverized and brought to a fine tilth.  10 to 20 tonnes farm yard manure is applied. Field is then levelled. 

Transplanting 
After the manures are incorporated in the soil, ridges are prepared at 60 cm spacing.  Healthy seedlings are planted at 30 cm spacing.  In some places, 60 cm x 60 cm or 45 cm x 30 cm spacing is also followed.  However, a spacing of 60 cm x 30 cm with a plant population of about 55000 seedlings per hectare is considered optimum.
 
Seed rate and sowing method 
A seed rate of 10 to 12 kg per ha is sufficient for broadcasting method.  They can be sown in lines also.  Line to line method is preferred as it increases root production and helps in performing intercultural operations smoothly.  The seeds are usually sown about 1 to 3 cm deep. Seeds should be covered with light soil in both the methods.  Line to line distance of 20 to 25 cm and plant to plant distance of 8 to 10 cm should be maintained.  According to soil fertility, in fertile soil, distance can be extended. 

Seed treatment 
Seed should be treated with thirum or dithane M45 (Inofil M45) at the rate of 3 g/kg seed before sowing to protect the seedlings from the seed borne diseases.

Thinning and weeding 
Grown up seedlings raised by sowing by broadcasting method or in line in furrows should be thinned out by hand 25 to 30 days after sowing the seeds to maintain a plant population of about 30 to 60 plants per sq.m.  The plant density to be  maintained finally may depend on the nature and fertility of the soil.  On marginal soil, the population is maintained high.  If some fertilizer is applied, the population should preferably be kept at lower level.  Generally two weedings are required to keep the field free from weeds, the first within 20-25 days of sowing the and the other seeds after 20-25 days of the first weeding.  
 
Manures and fertilizers 
The crop does not require heavy doses of manures and fertilizers.  It responds well to organic manures and addition of 10 tonnes FYM / 1 tonne vermicompost per hectare is recommended.  Application of 15 kg of Nitrogen and 15 kg of Phosphorous per hectare is beneficial  for  higher  production. 

Irrigation
Excessive rainfall or water is harmful for this crop.  Light shower after transplantation ensures better establishment of seedlings.  Life saving irrigation may be applied, if required.  Under irrigated conditions, the crop can be irrigated once in 10 days. 

Pests and diseases
No serious pest is reported in this crop.  Whenever the crop is damaged by insect, 2 to 3 sprays of rogor or nuvan should be applied @ 0.6%.  A combination of 0.5% malathion and 0.1% - 0.3% kelthane as foliar spray at 10-15 days interval was found highly useful for aphids, mites and insect attack.

Diseases like seedling rock and blight are observed. Seedling mortality becomes severe under high temperature and humid conditions.  Disease can be minimised by use of disease free seeds and by giving seed proper treatment before showing as stated earlier.  Carbofuran should be applied @ 2-2.5 kg/ha at the time of sowing.  Neem cake also can be applied.  It will save root damage done by nematodes and insects.  Further, adoption of crop rotation, timely sowing and keeping field well drained also protect the crop. 

Harvesting
Maturity of the crop is judged by drying out of leaves and yellow-red berries.  Flowering and bearing of  fruits  start from December onwards.  The crop is harvested for roots by digging in January to March i.e. 150 to 180 days after sowing.  There should be moisture in soil at the time of digging.  Roots are dug out or ploughed using power tiller or a country plough.  The tap root should be carefully pulled out not damaging even the small lateral roots. 

Post-harvest handling
The roots are separated from the aerial portion by cutting the stem 1 to 2 cm above the ground.  After digging, the roots are washed, cut into 7 to 10 cm small pieces and dried in sun or shed.  Roots should be dried  to  10 - 12 % moisture content. Root pieces can be graded in following 3-4 grades as per its length and thickness :
i.  A grade root     : Root pieces upto 7cm and diameter 1.0 - 1.5 cm, solid, bright and pure white.
ii. B grade root     : Root piece upto 5 cm and diameter 1 cm, bright and white.
iii.C grade root     : Root pieces upto 3-4 cms in length, diameter less than 1 cm,solid, side branches.
iv. Lower Grade  :  Small root pieces, semi-solid, very thick, yellowish, chopped.
The superior grade has stout and long root which fetches premium price.  To avoid moisture and fungal attack on the dried roots, it should be stored in tin containers.
Berries are hand plucked separately.  They are dried and crushed to take out the seeds.

Yield
On an average, the yield from 1 hectare of commercial cultivation is approximately 3 to 5 q./ of dry roots and 50 to 75 kg of seeds.  A maximum yield can be procured upto 6.5 to 7.0 q/ha. There are instances where farmers have achieved root yields as high as 1 tonne.  Commercially, 6 to 15 mm diameter and 7 to 10 cm length root species are better.  Alkaloid percentage in roots ranges from 0.13 to 0.31%. 

Marketing
The Neemuch and Mandasaur markets of Madhya Pradesh are popular world over for Ashwagandha.  Importers, buyers within the country, processors, traditional practitioners, Ayurvedic and Siddha Drug manufacturers throng these markets for procurement of Ashwagandha roots every year.  The domestic demand for Ashwagandha roots as stated earlier is about 7000 tonnes annually.  As the production is much less (around 1500 tonnes) in India, the internal market itself is highly potential. 

Institutes / organisations to be contacted
1.National Medicinal Plants Board, Department of ISM&H, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.
2.Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
3.Regional Research Laboratory, Jammu Tawi, Jammu & Kashmir, and other RRLs.
4.Agriculture College, Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
5.Utthan Centre for Sustainable Development & Poverty Alleviation, 18-A, Auckland   Road, Allahabad-211001, Uttar Pradesh.
6.State Agricultural Universities such as Kerala Agricultural University, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (MP), University of Agricultural Sciences (Karnataka), etc.
7. National Research Centre for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Anand, Gujarat.

Source: http://www.nabard.org/