Stevia Farming in India: A Sweet Revolution in Agriculture

Stevia require loamy soil with rich organic matter & adequate drainage. It needs constant moisture & a soil with a pH between 6 and 7. Besides, it need semi-humid climate and -6°C to 46°C temperature.

Nursery raised during January & March should be of width 1-1.5 m. It needs irrigation once daily, until the seedling becomes 2-month old, attaining a height of 10-15 cm and is ready for transplant.

Seedlings transplanted on raised beds are 50-60 cm wide and 12-15 cm long. Also, it is recommended to maintain a row-to-row distance of 40-45 cm, and the plant-to-plant distance should be 30 cm.

A drip irrigation or sprinkler system is best for stevia plants. Moreover, moderate amounts of water at regular intervals of 3 to 5 days is needed until the plant is established.

For better leaf yield and quality, apply 100-120 kg of N, 40-50 kg of P, and 50-60 kg of K per hectare as a fertilizer dose. Besides, well-rotted FYM at 20-30 tonnes per hectare needs to be applied.

Weed management is crucial in stevia plants. During the first 2 months, regular weeding is required at an interval of 20 days. Besides, mulching with plastic sheets or plant residues is recommended.

Controlled water supply & spraying borax (6%) to control chlorosis caused by fungus Septoria steviae. Fumigation needed for controlling Sclerotinia sclerotiorum that causes stems to become necrotic.