Chlorophytum arundinaceum

Plant profile

Chlorophytum arundinaceum

Morphological Characteristics

• It is a perennial herb with a short hard root stocks; roots often thick, fleshy and cylindrical.
• The leaves are 15-35 cm long and oblanceolate.
• The plant is considered endangered species in the country.

Floral Characteristics

• Inflorescence is dense; flowers are arranged in raceme and shortly branched.
• Flowers white, anthers as long as or longer than the filaments and yellow in colour.
• Bracts are usually long and over topping the shortly pedicelled buds.
• Cells of the orbicular capsule are 3-4 seeded and black coloured.

Distribution

Plant is distributed sparsely over Eastern India, mainly Bengal, Sikkim, Bihar, Assam and few places in Odisha and Meghalaya.

Climate and Soil

• A tropical and subtropical climate with humid atmosphere is suitable for its growth.
• Temperature 20°C-25°C, rainfall 150-200 cm and relative humidity around 70% is suitable for its better performances.
• Sandy-loam and organic matter rich in clay loam soil is suitable for the plant.

Cluster of underground tuberous root and dried root pieces

Propagation Material

• Seed
• Root tubers

Agro-technique

Nursery Technique

• Raising Propagules: Root stocks @ 7-10 quintals are required per hectare. Germination of untreated seeds is about 9-12%. Seed treatment with concentrated sulphuric acid for half an hour, followed by treatment of Gibberellic acid (GA) 100 ppm enhances germination upto 38%.
• Propagule Rate and Pretreatment: 45000-50000 seedlings per hectare as a mono crop; whereas 30000-40000 seedlings are required for plantation with Cajanus cajan (Pigeonpea) as a shade plant.

Planting in the Field

• Land Preparation and Fertilizer Application: Land should be ploughed, harrowed 2-3 times to make it to good tilth. FYM @ 20 t/ha may be applied during land preparation. NPK @ 90:30:30 kg/ha is recommended; of this, N is split in 3 doses. The first split of 30 kg N with entire quantity of P and K may be applied at the time of land preparation and rest of Nitrogen be applied after 3 and 6 months of planting.
• Transplanting and Optimum Spacing: Seeds may be sown in line during March in raised beds 10 cm apart. Frequent watering is necessary. By May-June seedlings are ready for transplantation. Shade must be provided in the plantation. 60X30 cm is recommended optimum spacing.
• Intercropping System: Cajanus cajan is found as a good intercrop providing shade to the growing plants.
• Interculture and Maintenance Practices: Hand weeding and hoeing at 4 months interval in first year; thereafter, twice in a year will keep the fields free from weeds.
• Irrigation Practices: Largely rain fed irrigated in dry season only or as required.
• Weed Control: Weed control is required at 45 days after planting and thereafter at 4 months interval. Pre-emergence application of Simazine 2.0 kg/ha or Pendimethaline @ 1.0 kg/ha is followed by hand weeding.
• Disease and Pest Control: No pest and disease infestation is observed in the plantation. Deficiency systems of iron are observed sometimes. Soil testing of the land under cultivation is carried before planting.

Harvest Management

• Crop Maturity and Harvesting: One year; harvesting time April – May.
• Post-harvest Management: Uprooting by hoe. Tubers must be cleaned from foreign material and then dried under shade for 15-20 days before packing in clean sacks and stored over wooden pallets.
• Chemical Constituents: Plant contains Sapogenine (0.1%), high percentage of starch, carbohydrate, sugar and minerals like magnesium, potassium and tannin.
• Yield : 500-800 kg dry root yield in second year after planting.

Therapeutic Uses

• Tubers having medicinal value are used as general tonic, containing the steroid sapogenine (1-2%), protein (10-20%) and calcium.
• Tubers are fat free and they have high aphrodisiac property.
• It is also useful in diseases like renal calculus, leucorrhoea and diabetes.

Source: Agro-techniques of selected medicinal plants