Centella is a perennial, prostrate aromatic herb flourishing on water and damp areas of tropical regions. It is the native of India, China, Indonesial, Madagascar and Africa. It is generally applied on the cure of leprosy, skin diseases, diahhorea, antitumour and antiulcer activity.
The fresh herb has an aromatic odour when crushed and has a nauseous bitter taste. Whole plant is popular as a kitchen herb in certain parts of India finding a place for itself in chutneys, pickles, refreshing drinks etc. It is also reported to possess insecticidal properties. Above all, it is used as a nerve tonic for improving memory and in insanity.
Soil and climate:
It comes up well in moist and marshy lands, often growing around water bodies. It prefers acidic soils and rather than alkaline soils. Clayey soils with good moisture along with organic matter suits very well for the crops.
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It prefers mild climate for its good growth. Under shady place the plant grows very well. Under 50 percent shaded conditions, it has shown high herb and asiaticoside yield.
Propagation:
It is propagated through stem cuttings comprising of rooted node with few leaves. To plant one hectare area, about 1,00,000 nos of plants are required. If the weather is congineal, the cuttings are either directly planted in the field or alternatively established in nursery beds and after about 4-6 weeks after transplanting in the main field.
The land is ploughed well and brought to fine tilth. Later it is divided into convenient sized beds. A light irrigation should be provided one to two days before planting to get good anchorage to roots. The plants should be planted in the month of October at a spacing of 30x30cm.
Manures and fertilizers:
The plant requires about 5t/ha of FYM which is to be applied as basal does at the time of land preparation. Regarding the inorganic fertilizers application of 100:60:60kg/ha of NPK is recommended.
Irrigation:
A light irrigation is given after first planting. The light irrigation is required at every 4-6 days interval till the plants get established firmly. Thereafter the irrigation is subjected to the field as per the crop requirement.
Interculture:
On proper establishment, plant produces off stolons, which root on contact with soil and proliferate by producing several stolons. Weeds disturb the normal growth pattern of the crop which need proper weeding. Hence weeding should be done at 15-20 days interval during the initial months.
Harvesting and yield:
Intermittent harvesting is done at fortnightly intervals to get the outer leaves from January onwards from growing branches. The harvesting of bulk materials should be done on the month of June, before the onset of monsoon. A few stolons are left as such in the field for the cause of regeneration of which further harvests starts from October onwards. On and average, from one hectare area about 5500 kg of fresh herb, 2000kg dry herb and 20 kg of asiaticoside can be obtained. |
Source:
Dr. K. Rajamani, Department of Medicinal Plants,TNAU,
Medicinal plants production towards globalization,
Page no: 107-111.
ISBN no:978-81-905951-1-7
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