Cultivation of Safed Moosli
SOIL AND CLIMATE
It
grows successfully in wide range of temperature and rainfall. It prefer
sandy loamy to loamy having normal pH range, super phosphate, decomposed
farm yard manure (FTM) and good drainage system for its better tuber growth.
FIELD PREPARATION
Ploughing done in the month of March-April and sowing of seeds of sunhmp
(boru), or sesbabia spp. (dencha) at a rate of 60 kg per acres for green
manure. Before commencement of flowers sunhump/dencha mixed with soil and
irrigate for easy and early decomposition. If the area of cultivation is
infested of termites than go for datura cultivation and mixed with soil. If
soil is of clay nature and requires soil conditioning than use soil
conditioner mycemeel (Hindustan Antibiotics, Pune) @ of 1.5 ton/acre. Deep
ploughing is done in the month of mid May and mixed 30-40 tonnes of
decomposed FYM/acre. For breaking of clods and better palvorisation of soil
go for 3-4 tillers. Final bed preparation activities jmust be completed
before commencement of first rainfall (If depends on localities). Safed
jmusli cultivation requires raised bed for easy tuber growth and for proper
drainage. Raised bed of 13" high and 3.5' wide of required length with
the help with the help of special bed raiser.
METHOD OF SOWING
Safed musli is a kharif crop, it is sown in the month of June, after first
shower. Tubers of safed musli carefully detached from the bunch with dise
portion. Average weight of each bunch (tuber with discportion) will be 8-15
grams as planting material is preferred. In a acre at the spacing of 8"x8",
about 450kgs of planting material is required, Just after first rainfall,
fertilizer application of N,P and K in the ratio of 20 kjg, 40 kg and 20 kg
per acre, respectively. Before sowing planting material is (bunches) treated
with a contact fungicide and a bactericide. Good results are found when
treated with "GAU-MUTRA". Planting done at the depth of 1/2-I"
below soil to avoid exposure of it's coller region with high intensity of
rainfall. Just after planting irrigated the field, and after that maintain
moisture in the field for its better sprouting and growth (irrigation
preferred with sprinkler system for good and required depth). Sprouting
taken place with in 5-15 days of planting.
Bed
Preparation
Being a tuber crop SAFED MOOSLI is cultivated on raised beds. These beds
are raised with the use of an implement attached to tractor the width of the
bed is 3.5 ft. and height of the bed is 1-1.5 ft.
WEEDING
For the control of weed growth, 2-3 weeding done in 30-40 days. Before
going for weeding, first irrigate the field properly a day before for easy
hand weeding.
Selection of Seeds
Two to five fingers of MOOSLI along with the part of crown (Depending on
the length of finger) weighing between 8-15 gm is most suitable as
experienced by the experts of JEEVAN HERBS & AGRO FORMS since last seven
years.
SPACING
8" x 8" is found to be the best.
HARVESTING
After sprouting, maintain moisture and weeding for it's healthy growth and
better tuber formation. Flowering started just after sprouting or 20-30 days
after sprouting depends upon climatic conditions or plant nature. Seed
formation activities started from maturation of flowers and seed maturation
completed (yellowing of capsule and black colored seeds like onion seeds)
with in 2-3 months, and simultaneously fresh tuber formation started and in
the month of Nov.-Dec., leaf yellowing started and leaf fall taken place
with complete tuber formation. At this stage tubers are not hardy and having
thin and smooth skin and high water percentage (about 85-90%) and not
suitable for next years planting material. For that purpose left the tubers
for 2-3 months for hardening, thick, and rough skin formation and let down
extra water to 70-75%. Before going for harvesting field is properly
irrigated for easy and safe dig out of tubers. It's cropping cycle is of
eight to nine months.
Storage of Planting Material
Ventilated racks are used to store safed moosli for next year in controlled
temperature of 25 - 31oC and at a relative humidity of 50 - 65%.
