Ashwagandha Cultivation in India: From Sowing to Harvesting
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Understanding Ashwagandha Plant
- What is the Climate & Soil Required for Ashwagandha Cultivation?
- What is the Process Involved in Ashwagandha Farming?
- What is the Economics of Growing Ashwagandha in India?
Introduction
Ashwagandha is an ancient medicinal plant known for its tonic and sedative properties. It first found mention in the text Punarvasu Atreya some 4000 years ago and has been a key medicine in the Indian traditional medicine systems of Ayurveda and Unani.
Ashwadgandha is primarily cultivated in India, Pakistan and North America. With the growing awareness and importance of Ayurveda across the world, the export potential of Ashwagandha has increased. Today, this plant is exported to countries like Canada, Czech Republic and the USA.
The major states involved in Ashwagandha farming are Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. Among all these states, Madhya Pradesh is the leading Ashwagandha producing state where it is cultivated in more than 5000 hectares.
There is a huge scope for increasing its cultivation and achieving higher production due to the demand – supply gap. The annual demand for Ashwagandha in India is about 7000 tonnes but only 1500 tonnes is produced. However, cultivating it successfully requires extreme care as it requires specific agro-climatic condition.
Understanding Ashwagandha Plant
Ashwagandha scientific name is Withania Somnifera, wherein Withania means ‘primary extract of plant’ and somnifera means ‘sleep inducing’ drug. It is known by different region and languages. These names include Asgandh, Winter Cherry, and Indian ginseng. It is named so because its root extract smells like horse and its consumption provides strength and vitality like a horse.
Ashwagandha’s medicinal properties find mentions in texts like Astanga Hridaya, Bhava Prakasha Nighantu, Chakra Samhita and Sushruta Samhita. Its roots extract is primarily used as sedative and tonic in many countries. It is also referred as ‘Royal Herb’ because of its multiple therapeutic effects on human body.
Ashwagandha plant is an erect branching undershrub that reaches a height of about 1.50 meter. It is mainly cultivated in dry and sub-tropical regions of India. Its cultivation requires extreme care as it is highly soft plant.
What is the Climate & Soil Required for Ashwagandha Cultivation?
Climate
Ashwagandha is cultivated during late rainy season and is a Kharif season crop. The plant during its growing period relatively requires a dry season and one or two winter rains improves its root development. The ideal climatic conditions are:
- Climate: Semi-tropical
- Temperature: 20°C to 35°C
- Rainfall: 500 – 700 mm in semi-tropical areas
- Altitude: 1500 meter above sea level
Soil
- Good drained sandy loam to light red soil with a pH value in the 7.5 to 8.0.
- The most ideal soil for its cultivation is Black Soil.
What is the Process Involved in Ashwagandha Farming in India?
Prepare the Field
Field preparation is the first step in any crop cultivation process. In case of Ashwagandha plant, 2 to 3 ploughing and harrowing needs to be done before rains. Once the land is well ploughed, pulverised and brought to fine tilth, apply 10 -20 tonnes Farmyard Manure (FYM).
Transplanting the Ashwagandha Sapling
The planting of Ashwagandha can take place in two ways – directly sowing the seedling or transplanting the nursery-grown plant.
In the former method, prepare the ridges at a spacing of 60 cm and then plant the seedlings at 30 cm spacing. The most optimum plant spacing for Ashwagandha is 60 cm x 30 cm with a density of around 55,000 seedlings per hectare.
In the later method, transplant the nursery raised plant after 25 – 35 days of sowing with a 60 cm x 60 cm spacing.
Sowing Method of Ashwagandha
Transplanting of Ashwagandha is done either by broadcasting method or live method. In case of broadcasting method, the ideal seed rate is 10 -12 kg per hectare. Do ensure to cover the seeds with light soil.
In case of Line to Live method, the seeds are generally sown 1 – 3 cm deep. The ideal line-to-line distance is 20 – 25 cm and plant-to-plant spacing is 8 – 10 cm. This method is the most preferred as it helps increase root production and perform inter-cultural practices efficiently.
Seed Treatment
Seed should be treated with dithane M45 (Inofil m45) or thirum at the rate of 3 gram per kg seed before sowing to protect the seedlings from the seed borne diseases.
Thinning & Weeding of Ashwagandha Plant
Thinning is required to maintain the plant density of about 30 – 60 plants per square km. It should be done 25 – 30 days after sowing with the help of hand. The plant density usually depends upon the nature and fertility of soil, for instance, in marginal soils, the plant density is maintained high.
On the other hand, two weeding are required, first within 20 – 25 days of sowing, and second, after 20 – 25 days of first weeding. This helps keep the Ashwagandha farm free from weeds.
Applying Manures & Fertilizers
Usually, the Ashwagandha plant does not need heavy doses of manures and fertilizers. Yet, the recommended doses are:
- Organic Manure: 10 tonnes FYM per hectare or 1 tonne vermicompost per hectare
- Chemical Fertilizers: 15 kg Nitrogen and 15 kg Phosphorus.
Irrigation of Ashwagandha
Excessive rainfall or water is harmful for this crop. Light shower after transplantation ensures better establishment of seedlings. Lifesaving irrigation may be applied, if required. Under irrigated conditions, the crop can be irrigated once in 10 days.
Pests & Disease Management
Even though no major pest is reported in Ashwagandha crop, still whenever the crop is damaged by insect, apply
- 2 to 3 sprays of rogor or nuvan at 0.6%.
- A combination of 0.5% malathion and 0.1% - 0.3% kelthane as foliar spray.
These shall be applied at 10-15 days interval to protect against aphids and mites.
Diseases such as seedling rock and blight affect Ashwagandha plant. To reduce seed mortality accentuated by high humid conditions and temperature, treat the seed at the time of sowing with
- Carbofuran @ 2-2.5 kg/ha; and
- Neem cake.
Further, adoption of crop rotation, timely sowing and keeping field well drained also protect the crop.
Harvesting of Ashwagandha Plant
Drying out of leaves and yellow-red berries are indication that Ashwagandha is maturing and ready for harvest. Flowering and bearing of fruits start from December onwards. The crop is harvested for roots by digging in January to March i.e. 150 to 180 days after sowing.
At the time of digging, there should be enough moisture in the soil and roots should be dug out with the help of either power tiller or a country plough. Furthermore, the tap root should be carefully pulled out without damaging even the small lateral roots.
Ashwagandha Plant Yield
On an average, the yield from 1 hectare of commercial cultivation is approximately 3 to 5 quintal/ of dry roots and 50 to 75 kg of seeds. A maximum yield can be procured up to 6.5 to 7.0 quintal per hectare. There are instances where farmers have achieved root yields as high as 1 tonne.
For commercial purposes, 7 to 10 cm length and 6 to 15 mm diameter root species with alkaloid percentage of 0.13 - 0.31% are better.
What is the Economics of Growing Ashwagandha in India?
Farmers can earn more than INR 2.5 to 3.00 Lakhs per hectare within 180-185 days of planting Ashwagandha plant. According, to an estimate by the National Medicinal Plant Board (NMPB),
- Expenditure per hectare: INR 5,600/-
- Return per hectare: INR 30,000/-
- Net Income: INR 24,000/-
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