Chlorophytum is a perennial plant but borivilianum is an annual species. In the nature, it propagates through its fleshy roots. These fleshy roots are the only part having economical importance. In natural conditions, it rarely reproduces through sexual reproduction (i.e. through seeds). Its seeds are similar to Onion seeds, black and angular. The seeds are having very low germination percentage. The cultivation method of Chlorophytum borivilianum may be divided into following groups.
Ø Soil & Climate
Ø Land & preparation
Ø Vegetative Propagation
Ø Treatment of Planting Material & Transplanting
Ø Irrigation
Ø Manuring & Fertilizer Application
Ø Weeding
Ø Harvesting
Ø Washing, Storage & Rubbing of produce
The details of Chlorophytum borivilianum are different from other crops. But the general details of each step is given below.
Soil & Climate
Sandy loam soil is the best for its cultivation having well drained condition, which is an important for the finger size of Safed Musli. It flourishes well in tropical climate.
Land Preparation and use of Soil conditioner
The soil should be ploughed about 30-40 cm deep, 2-3 times. It should be harrowed to make soil loose, beds should be having the width 2 feet, raised 6” – 1 ft. from the surface. Being a tuber crop it 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. The soil conditioner named Mychmile should be used to make the soil soft and free from diseases etc.
Vegetative Preparation
Not only seed germination is poor (14-16%), propagation by seed takes about 2 year or more. So, the root crown should be used for production of a large number of propagules round the year. This could be planted in the field and in the Hi-Tech Green House condition. Fleshy roots (1200 kg/ha) are cut like fingers and are planted with their crown.
Treatment of Planting Material and Transplanting
Planting material should be dipped into the solution of Bovistin for two minutes to protect it from the diseases. Healthy plantlets are transplanted in the field in July or end of June, which have attended a sufficient height and could be easily picked up from the nursery. It grows in rainfed conditions also. It should be transplanted in the space 7” by 24”.
Irrigation
It may not require irrigation, however in the event of long, dry spell due to failure of monsoon, irrigation as may be necessary should be given.
Manuring and Fertilizers
The application of good matured compost manure should be about 10 Trolley per ha for good production of Safed Musli. The use of chemical fertilizers is avoided since that may affect the quality of the produce i.e. medicinal composition resulting the low price in the market. The application of Green Manure and Bone manure are also fruitful to increase the production and improve the quality of Safed Musli.
Weeding
2-3 weedings are required during the 3-4 months after planting the Safed Musli Crop in order to keep the stand of crop as pure as possible.
Harvesting
The species blooms at first showers of monsoon. Harvesting should be done from March to April. The total crop period is estimated at 9-10 months. Tubers should be blackish-brown colour when crop is ready for harvest in late Feb. Thus promoter would plant and harvest a new crop every year. After sprouting, moisture is maintained and weeding is done for healthy growth and better tuber formation. Flowering starts just after sprouting or 20-30 days after sprouting depending upon climatic conditions or plant variety. Seed formation starts from fertilization of flowers and seed maturation completes (yellowing of capsule and black colored seeds like onion seeds) within 2-3 months. Simultaneously fresh tuber formation starts. In the month of Nov.-Dec., leaf yellowing starts and leaf fall takes place with complete tuber formation. At this stage tubers are soft. They have thin and smooth skin with high water percentage (about 85-90%). These are not suitable as planting material. For that purpose the tubers are left for 2-3 months for hardening, thickening, and rough skin formation. Before going for harvesting field is properly irrigated for easy and complete extraction of tubers.
Yield, Washing & Rubbing of Produce
An yield of 4800 kg of roots per ha has been considered, which is based on the results of nearby farmers. After digging of tubers, it requires the washing and rubbing the produce properly. From this, farmers retain their own planting requirement for the coming year.
| COST OF PRODUCTION & PROFITABILITY in Musli Crop. | ||
| S.NO. | PARTICULARS | For 1 Crop |
| 1 | Land (ha) | 1.76 |
| 2 | Working Days(Nos.) | 300 |
| 3 | Total Production(kg) | 8,448 |
| 4 | Less Captive Consumption(kg)* | 2,112 |
| 5 | Dry Musli available for sale(kg) | 1,267 |
| 6 | Total Sales (Rate@Rs 1200/kg) | Value (Rs in lakhs) |
| Dry Musli | 15.20 | |
| 7 | Cost of Production | |
| A) Cropping Expenses | 1.50 | |
| B) Power & Fuel | 0.36 | |
| C) Wages | 3.24 | |
| D) Depreciation | 0.23 | |
| E) Selling & Dist. Exp. @5% | 0.76 | |
| F) Bank Interest 16.00% | 0.64 | |
| TOTAL | 6.73 | |
| 8 | Net Profit | 8.48 |
| 9 | Cash Generated | 8.71 |
| 10 | Loan repayment | 4.00 |
| 11 | Manpower | 15 |
| 12 | Break Even Point | 11.30% |
| 13 | Internal Rate Return | 26.20% |
| 14 | %age of Net profit to Sales | 55.39% |
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