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Three types of lemon grasses viz. East Indian lemongrass (C flexuosus), West Indian lemon grass (C. citrates), and Jammu lemongrass (C. pendulus) are in cultivation in our country as the important sources of citrates. C. flexuosus grown commercially in Kerala and nearby adjacent state, its oil is popularly known as "Cochin oil" as it is shipped mainly through Cochin port. India is annually producing nearly 1000 MT per year while the world demand is much more. Annually, we are exporting lemon grass oil in a tube of about Rs. 5 crores. Our country is facing a critical competition from Gautemaja in the International market.
2. Oil has bactericidal, insect repellent and medicinal uses. 3. The spent grass is a source of good cattie feed and can be converted into good silage. 4. Spent grasses are also useful for the manufacture of card boards and papers or as fuel.
0-19 SD68
These two improved varieties are now recommended for wide cultivation. Recently the RRI, Jammu has developed hybrid strain CKP-25 by crossing C. khasianus and C. pendulus which is capable of yielding 50 % and 140 % moire oil yield than RRL-16 and OD-19 respectively.
Nursery:
The soil should be well pulverized for forming the seed bed and it should be a raised bed one. Leaf mould and farm yard manure are also added to the soil while forming the bed. 15-20 kg of seeds are required for raising seedlings for one hectare. Seeds are sown in lines drawn at 10 cm interval mthe beds and -covered with cut grass materials when the
seedlings are about 2 months old or, about 12 to 15 cm high, they are ready for transplanting.
Field Preparations:
The land is cleared of the underground vegetations and pits of 5 cm cube are made at a spacing of 15 x 19 cm. Splits from old clumps can also be used for propagations.