Aloe is a perennial plant native to Africa and the Mediterranean. It grows well in hot, dry climates and tolerates a wide range of soils. The leaves contain a gel with various health benefits including wound healing, immune support, and digestion. It is cultivated commercially for its medicinal and cosmetic uses. Major producers include Africa, China, USA, and parts of India. Propagation is through suckers or rhizome cuttings. With proper irrigation and fertilization, annual yields of 40-55 tons of leaves can be obtained from one hectare. The leaves and gel are used in foods, drinks, and cosmetics.

1. Aloe
Aradhana Sen
Department of Vegetables and Spice Crops
Faculty of Horticulture, uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyaalaya, Pundibaari,
Coochbehar, WB- 736165
e-mail: nini.sen20@gmail.com
Botanical name: Aloe vera (2n= 14)
Local name: Musambar, Ghikanwar
Family: Lilliaceae
Origin: This plant is native to Africa & Mediterranean regions.
Introduction
Aloe Vera is a very hardy perennial tropical plant, growing to the hight of 1½ - 2½ ft that can
be cultivated in drought areas as well. Its leaves are long and thick, juicy with a wheel like
phylotaxy. The two sides of the leaves have thorny structure with a thorny tip. The inner
substance of the leaves is jelly like, with bad odour and bitter in taste. The length of the
leaves ranges from 25-30 cm., while the breadth ranges from 3-5 cm. Normally it flowers
during October to January and the long inflorescence has a large number of small pink
flowers all around. Fruits are developed during February to April. Because of sky rocketing
price of allopathic medicines with its known side effects, medicinal plants and ayurvedic
medicines are becoming popular. This plant became very popular in the world due to its
medicinal value. This plant also called as “miracle plant” (or) “nature’s tonic”. Africa, China,
U.S.A., Australia, Mexico, tropical regions of Latin American countries and coastal area of
south India are the major producers of Aloe Vera in the world. USA dominates the market
(65%) while India and China have a share of 10 percent each which could be enhanced by its
commercial cultivation. This plant is being used extensively in cosmetic industry and
consumer product segment.
Health Benefits of Aloe Vera: – Below are the some of the health benefits and medicinal
values of Aloe Vera.
Aloe Vera is a anti-biotic, anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, disinfectant, anti-biotic, anti-septic,
germicidal,
1. Anti-fungal and anti-viral.
2. Aloe Vera is excellent for the skin treatments/cosmetic use.
3. Aloe Vera is extensively used in treatment of urine related problems, ulcers and
pimples.
4. Aloe Vera Is good source of vitamins and minerals.
5. Aloe Vera is high in amino acids and fatty acids.
6. Aloe Vera is a well-known adaptogen.
7. Aloe Vera helps with digestion.
8. Aloe Vera helps in detoxification process.
9. Aloe Vera is heart healthy.
10. Aloe Vera helps in boosting the Immune system.

2. Novel components of aloe vera along with their health benefits
Chemical
component
Health benefits
Acemannan Accelerate wound healing, modulate immune system, Antineoplastic
and antiviral effects
Alprogen Anti-allergic
C-glycosyl
chromone
Anti-inflammatory
Bradykinase Anti-inflammatory
Magnesium lactate Anti-allergic
Salicylic acid Analgesic, anti-inflammatory
Varieties
Gurguva aloe - Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis)
Cape aloe - Aloe ferox
Sagotrin aloe - Aloe perryi
These are the three mainly cultivated types of aloe. Certain other types like Zanzibar,
Uganda, Natal and Hyderabad aloe are having good quality of “aloe gel”.
Improved Commercial Varieties of Aloe Vera in India:- Aloe barbedensis, A.
perfoliata,A. chinensis,A.littoralis,A indica,A. abyssinica,A. vulgaris, AL-1, IC111269,
IC111271 and IC111280.
Soil and Climate
Aloe Vera can be cultivated on wide variety of soils from sandy soils to loamy soils.
However, it thrives best in light soils. As this plant is sensitive to water stagnation, make sure
to select the well drained soils for its cultivation. This plant can tolerate soils with high pH
range up to7- 8.5. Aloe Vera could be grown in well drained laterite to loamy soils but
growth would be faster in black cotton soils with good drainage. This plant also thrives best
with higher foliage. This plant also tolerates soils with salty in nature. Commercial
cultivation can be done in regions having 25 – 40°C. Because of stiff, rugged and harsh habit
they are grown in desert and dry situations. Grows well in hot and dry climate. Basically Aloe
Vera is a warm tropical crop but can be grow in various climatic conditions. This can be
successfully grown in low rainfall regions and dry areas with warm humid conditions. This
plant is very sensitive to extreme cold conditions. This plant thrives best on dry sandy soils in
the regions where lower rainfall is expected. This plant cannot tolerate frost and cool climatic
conditions.
Tillage: One shallow ploughing followed by harrowing to bring the soils to fine tilth. Mix 5-
20 cart loads of FYM in soil. This will facilitate better moisture holding capacity improve soil
texture and structure.
Seedand sowing
It is propagated through suckers. The suckers are dipped in 0.1 % Carbendazim for five
minutes and planted in the field. For planting one hectare of land, 10,000 suckers are
required.

3. Planting season
The planting can be done during two seasons namely June – July and September – October.
Planting
Propagation and Planting Method : Propagation is done through root suckers / rhizome
cuttings. In case of root sucker propagation, select medium size root suckers and should
carefully dig without damaging mother plant at the base. This can be directly planted in the
main land. In case of rhizome cutting propagation, after harvesting the crop, dig out the
underground rhizome and make about 6 cm length cuttings with two to three nodes on them.
Place these on prepared sand beds. Once sprouts are popping up, transplant these into main
field. Nearly three to four months old suckers having 4-5 leaves and about 20-25 cm in
length be used as planting material. Usually about 15000 suckers are required for 1 acre of
nursery. Field is thoroughly ploughed and beds of suitable sizes are formed. Suckers are
planted at 90 x 90 cm spacing. To accommodate about 50,000 to 55000 plants per hectare,
spacing between plants can be 40 x 45 cm (or) 60 x 30 cm maintained.
Inter-Culture Operations: The field should be kept free from weeds throughout the growing
period. Two to three hand weeding per year to promote growth and suckering. Remove
regularly diseased plants and dried flower stakes.
The ground is to be carefully prepared to keep free from weeds and the soil is ideally kept
ideally slightly acidic. The soil should be supplied supplement in the form of ammonium
nitrate every year.
Irrigation
Aloe Vera crop can be grown both under rainfed and irrigated conditions but mainly grown
as rainfed crop. Irrigation should be carried out immediately after planting the suckers.
Couple of irrigations in hot summer weather will result in good yield usually 4-5 irrigations
are required. In rainy season, avoid water logging in the field as this crop is sensitive to water
stagnation.
To get good crop, irrigation at different critical stages of growth are required as follows :
1. First irrigation just after planting of suckers.
2. Give 2-3 irrigations subsequently till the plants get established, 4-6 irrigations per
year may be enough for its proper growth.
3. Depending upon the availability of water, give light irrigation after each picking of
leaves.
Manuring
Incorporate 10 t/ha of FYM during last ploughing. For fertile soils manuring is not required at
all. But for low fertile soils, apply 30 kg/ha of Nitrogen + 120 kg/ha of Gypsum during field
preparation. In addition, 30 kg N can be applied after 20 days of planting.
Plant protection
No pest and disease infestation are noticed in aloe. However, under water logged condition,
rotting will occur which will be overcome by good drainage practices.

4. Harvest
An 8 - 12 inch aloe pop would take about 18 - 24 months to fully mature. The plants, in a
year's time, would bear flowers that are bright yellow in color. The leaves are 1 to 2 feet long
and are cut without causing damage to the plant, so that it lasts for several years. The crop
can be harvested 4 times a year. At the rate of 3-4 leaves cut from each plant during morning
or evening times, about 12 leaves are the harvest per plant per year. On an average, the yield
per hectare annually is about “55” tones.The leaves cut off close to the plant are placed
immediately, with the cut end downwards, in a V-shaped wooden trough of about 4 feet long
and 12 to 18 inches deep. Keep the cut leaves for some time till the viscous gel from the cut
end dries up within 6 hours after harvest. Then collect the leaves for packing Three harvests
can be carried in one year time. This crop is a labour intensive crop. After harvesting leaves,
again they re-generate up to 5 years after planting. Not only leaves, side suckers can be
harvested for using in planting material.
Post Harvesting Tasks: After harvesting the fresh leaves, care should be taken for drying the
leaves. Usually harvest crop is allowed to lose the moisture in the field itself before
transporting. To prevent any mould growth, leaves should be kept dry and cool. Use of
concrete floor is useful in stacking or storing them.
Economic Life: Commercial yield of Aloe Vera can be obtained from second to fifth year.
Thereafter, field should be re-planted.
Yield
An average leaf yield of 15 t/ha can be obtained. One year old plant will produce
approximately 3-4 kg leaves. It means 40-45 tons of leaves can be harvested from 1 acre
planting.
Diseases
Category : Fungal
Aloe rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi). Symptoms: Small, pale yellow spots on leaves which
expand and turn brown; orange spore masses may be present on underside of leaf; leaves may
drop from plant. Disease emergence favors cool temperatures and high humidity.
Management: Disease is self limiting and requires no treatment.
Anthracnose disease (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides). Symptoms: The initial appearance of
small round to oval, dark green water-soaked which later become circular spots with tan to
light brown center. As the spots mature the center of the lesion become reddish brown to
brown color. With progress in disease the lesions join together to form big necrotic area.
Disease is favored by warm, wet weather; spread easily during wet weather by water splash.
Management: Application of suitable fungicides.
Basal stem rot (Fusarium spp.). Symptoms: Base of plant turning reddish brown to black
and rotting. Fatal disease of aloes; disease emergence favors cold, damp conditions.
Management: Pieces of plant may be saved by taking cuttings above rotted portion.
Category : Bacterial

5. Bacterial soft rot (Pectobacterium chrysanthemi). Symptoms: Watery, rotting leaves which
are darker in color; young leaves wilting and collapsing; leaves bulging due to gas formation
inside. Bacteria survive in plant debris in the field; disease emergence favored by hot, wet
weather. Management: Fatal disease; avoid over-watering plants.
Pests
Category : Insects
Aloe vera aphid (Aloephagus myersi). Symptoms: Both adults and nymphs feed at the bases
of the leaves or in rolled ends of damaged leaves. They also secrete honeydew which is
resulting in sooty mold development. Severe infestation leads to slow growth and stunting.
One of important quarantine pest. Management: Organically acceptable methods of control
include the application of insecticidal soap and preservation of natural enemies.
Products:
Aloe vera
products
Food applications
Concentrate Squash, jam, jellies, aloe vera concentrate can also be mixed with tea, water
or juice
Gel fillet Candies, bar, munch, chewing gum, instant aloe vera tea granules, aloe vera
gum for sore or bleeding gums, candy type aloe vitamins, aloe vera fruit
smoothies
Juice Ready to serve drink, health drink, soft drink, laxative drink, sherbet, sports
drink (with electrolytes), diet drink with soluble fiber, hangover drink with B-
vitamins, amino acids and acetaminophen, healthy vegetable juice mix,
yoghurts, aloe vera mix for whiskey or other alcohol, white bread with aloe
vera, and cucumber juice with aloe vera
Powder Yoghurt, curd, ‘lassi’, ice-cream, and aloe vera ‘laddu’