Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flaxuosus)

Botany:- Lemongrass is a perennial aromatic grass, which yields

essential oil having lemony odour due to high citral content (75-85%) in
its oil. Three types of essential oils are popular in trade i.e. East Indian,
West Indian and Jammu Lemongrass. It is about 2-2.5 mtrs. tall with
dark green or yellowish green leaves. The oil is present in leaves
tissues. Leaf sheath are glabrous, hair at the junction blade, leaf blade
one metre long and 1.5 cm. wide.
Soil and Climate: - Lemongrass is a very hardy crop, which can be
adapted to a varied nature of soil and climate. It grows best in well
drained sandy loam and medium loam soils having good water
holding capacity. It can be grown in varied pH ranges of soils. But, it
prefers neutral pH soils which support good growth of plants. It can
also be grown in soil with poor fertility, marginal and sub-marginal
land. It grows best in warm and humid climate with bright sun shine
and well distribution of rainfall throughout year.
Propagation: - Lemongrass is propagated through vegetative parts
called as slips or by seeds. A slip is separated from a bunch of tillers of
one year old plantation. Slips should be selected from healthy and
disease free plant population. Propagation is done in the month of
July/August during monsoon season. However, it can also be planted
in February /March. One or two slips are planted in a hole at a
distance of 45 cm. and 60 cm. Apart. It can also be grown by sowing
seeds in nursery in May/June and seedlings of six weeks of age are

supposed to be transplanted in the main field with an appropriate

distance in monsoon season.
Fertilizers Requirement: - It is a leafy crop and responds well to use of
fertilizers and manures from the soil. Fertilizers application to
lemongrass varies from soil to soil and region to region. The fertilizers
and manure requirement in heavy soils are less than the soils of poor
fertility. In average fertility soils, 120 kg. Nitrogen, 60 kg. Phosphorus
and 30 kg. Potash is recommended; 60 kg. of Nitrogen, all phosphorus
and potash is applied at the time of planting and rest amount of
nitrogen is applied into three equal splits during growth period of
crop.
Weed Management :-Weed infestation is avoided at the initial stage of
crop, it can be done by manual weeding or by using chemical
herbicides. Early stage of growth weed competition is more than the
developed crop. Weed control can also be done by using organic
mulching, which can be done by using waste of citronella and
lemongrass itself. Mulch is spread out between the lines of crop, which
prohibits the growth of undesired plant.
Irrigation :-It is an important factor, which is responsible for healthy
plant span. If crop is planted in July/August (Monsoon season) there is
no need of irrigation to the crop. Generally, irrigations, are required
during dry months of the year i.e. March to June. For successful
growth, 6-8 irrigations are required.

Harvesting :-Harvesting is done in sunny days by a sharp shickle, Jerks

and pulls are avoided for better generation of crop. First harvest of
lemongrass is obtained in 120 days of planting and subsequent harvest
is obtained after 60 days of previous harvest. In case of CKP-25 cultivar,
it is not applicable, it can be harvested within 50 days under good
management condition. In a year 4-5 harvests can be obtained.
Distillation: - Distillation can be done by steam or hydro-steam
distillation method. The latter is more common among the growers
because it is too cheap than the earlier. The distillation unit is run by
using waste of lemongrass as a fuel so as to make distillation process
cheaper. The distillation is over within 4-5 hours and 0.4-0.8% oil yield
is recovered in normal condition.
Diseases and Pests: - Lemongrass is much hardy and resistant to
disease and pests problem; however, a number of diseases are reported
in which leaf blight is more harmful to the crop. It is caused by a
fungus known as Collatotrichumgraminicola. At previous stage of
infection, small brown patches appear on the leaves surface and these
elongated through the age. The disease can be controlled by using
dithiocarbanate.