This document provides information on Chlorophytum borivillianum L., a medicinal plant native to India known as Safed Musli. It summarizes that Safed Musli is used in Ayurvedic medicines as a tonic for general weakness. The document describes the plant's classification, morphology, distribution, varieties, uses, nutrients, cultivation practices including climate, soils, planting, irrigation and harvesting. It provides yield and economic information, concluding that the annual tuber yield from Safed Musli cultivation is 1000 kg per hectare.

1. Chlorophytum borivillianum L.
Presented by Surabhi sarma
M.Sc. 3rd sem
HAPPRC

2. INTRODUCTION
• Chlorophytum borivilianum is a native of India,
used and grown as a medicinal plant.
• An important medicinal plant known as ‘Safed musli’,
used in many Ayurvedic vital tonics.
• There are about 256 species of Chlorophytum and 17
among them are found in India.
• The M.P.B has recognized safed musli as 6th
important herb to be protected and promoted.

3. CLASSIFICATION
• Botanical name : Chlorophytum borivilianum
• Vernacular name: safed musli, musli
• Trade name : Nai chetna
• Family : Asparagaceae (Liliaceae)
• Status : Rare in nature
• Parts uses: Tuber roots
• Used as : Tonic

4. DISCRIPTION
• They grow to 10–60 cm tall, with a rosette of long,
slender leaves 15–75 cm long and 0.5–2 cm broad,
tubers can be grown upto a depth of 25 cm, growing
from a thick, fleshy rhizome.
• The flowers are small, usually white, produced on
sparse panicles up to 120 cm long; in some species
the panicle also bears plantlets, which take root on
touching the ground.

5. ORIGIN AND DISTRIBUTION
• native to the tropical and subtropical regions
of Africa and Asia.
• Also cultivated in USA and England.
• In India its mainly distributed in southern
Rajasthan, north Gujarat and western Madhya
Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Andhra
Pradesh and etc.

6. VARIETIES OF CHLOROPHYTUM
• Chlorophytum C. comosum C. oceanum
borivillianum

7. Chlorophytum laxum Chlorophytum capanse

8. USES
• Its tubers roots are used in Ayurvedic medicines,
roots are used for the preparation of nutritive
tonic used in general sexual weakness.
• Strengthens immunity, Diabetes , Leucorrhea,
Obesity.
• For therapeutic application in Ayurveda, Unani,
Allpathic.
• It is essential part of a traditional diet of mothers
(after delivery) in the form of Laddoos.

9. NUTRIENTS AND PHYTOCHEMICAL
CONTENTS
• The tuberous roots of Musli herbs contains-
• Carbohydrates
• Proteins
• Saponins
• Alkaloids
• Fiber
• Safed Musli has very good Ayurvedic medicinal use. It
is rich source of over 25 alkaloids, vitamins, minerals,
proteins, carbohydrates, steroid, seponins and
polysaccharides, resins, phenol and mucilage content.

10. Chemical composition Content(%)
Carbohydrates 35-45
Proteins 5-10
Fiber 23-35
Saponins 2-15
Alkaloids 15-25

11. CLIMATE AND SOILS
• A plant of tropical climate requiring an annual
rainfall of about 800-1200mm for its proper
growth.
• Grown in hot and subtropical climate
• Well drained sandy loam soils rich in organic
matter is suitable for cultivating this crop. .
• Acidic soils should be avoided.

12. land preparation
o Land preparation begins with one to two deep
ploughings.
• Land should be harrowed to make it loose
and friable.

13. • Raised beds of 60-75cm width and 15-45cm
height are prepared.
• Sufficient number of irrigation channels are
made around the bed for proper drainage of
water.

14. PLANTING
• Tubers or fingers collected from previous crop
can be used for propagating Musli.
• Tubers weighing 5-10g can be used as a whole
for planting.
• Around 2,00,000 propagules can be planted in
an area of one hectare.

15. SOWING
• Two month old Musli saplings begins to
produce small black coloured seeds
resembling the seeds of onion.
• One hectare area would require about 18-20
kg seed.
• Seeds are reported to have a dormancy period
upto 10 months.

16. FERTILIZERs
• 12-15 tonnes per hectare of well decomposed
FYM should be applied during land
preparation.
• Organic manure @30-35 tonnes/hac is applied
to take care of the major and micronutrient
requirement of the crops and also soil
condition
• Though the use of chemical fertiliser is
beneficial, it should be avoided as far as
possible.

17. IRRIGATION
• Irrigation with an interval of 10 days is a must
after a prolonged dry spell.
• Should be irrigated in every 20-22 days for
better growth and development of the crops.
• It should be ensured that the land is kept
wet/moist till the crop is harvested.

18. INTERCROPPING
• It is economical to grow musli as an inter-crop
with Lemon, Papaya, Poplar.
• INTERCULTURE:-
• 2-3 weeding are required in August,
November and April month.

19. WEEDS AND PLANT PROTECTION
• Two to three weeding in done in initial stage
of growth to check the weeds.
• Spraying of Neem or Chrysanthemum or
Tabacco or application of Trichoderma done
for the control of diseases like leaf spot,
anthracnoose, wilt and etc.

20. SOME HOST OF CHLOROPHYTUM

21. HARVESTING
• 90-95 days after planting the leaves start drying
up.
• At this stage it should be left in the field for
another 1-2 months with light irrigation.
• Tubers may be harvested in the month of January
without any damage to the crown.
• Fully mature tubers are brownish black in colour
• Hence it is advisable to harvest the entire crop in
the second year for both tubers for sale as well as
for planting material.

23. POST HARVEST
• Tubers are washed under running water to remove soil and
any adhering particles. The skin is peeled off either by hand
after wetting or by rubbing it with the stone or by a knife.
They are dried properly, under the sun for 2-3 days so that it
looses excess moisture and is completely dry.
• Dried musli is packed in polythene bags to prevent entry of
moisture and any other possible damage before marketing it.
Fresh tubers reduces to about 20-25 percent upon drying.
• Grading of tubers is done into high, medium and low based on
quality of tubers. Best quality tubers are those which are
white without any brown patches.

25. YIELD
• Economic yield of tubers is obtained up to 7
years after which it begins to decline. The
annual yield of dry tubers is 1000 kg per
hectare.

26. ECONOMICS OF CULTIVATION
• Market price of the planting material ranges from Rs. 300 to 500
per kg.
• EXPENDITURE PER HECTARE, DURATION : 18 MONTHS
• PARTICULARS QTY. RATE(Rs.) TOTAL(Rs.)
• Planting material 10 q/ha 450/Kg. 4,50,000
• FYM 12 tonnes 500/tons 6,000
• Land preparation & ploughing 3 ploughings 3,750
• Bed preparation 5,000
• Fertilizer, spray & other nutrients 5,000
• Green manure & mulching 12,500
• Weeding & hoeing Twice
7,500
• Sowing
5,000
• Uprooting and Washing
12,500
• Miscellaneous
10,000
• Skin removal & drying 1000Kg. 100/Kg 1,00,000
• TOTAL EXPENSES 6,17,250

27. • Some product of Cholophytum found in market.