This document discusses sustainable cultivation methods for several medicinal plant species. It describes how these plants can be grown as intercrops in coconut and rubber plantations. Specific propagation, planting, harvesting, and processing methods are outlined to minimize waste and maximize yields and profits. For example, Hemidesmus indicus is grown in vertically split bamboo to facilitate root harvesting without damage. Holostemma ada-kodien is grown in long polybags supported by bamboo to simplify root extraction. Proper drying and storage methods are also recommended to prevent fungal growth and pest infestation.

1. Commercial cultivation, scientific
harvesting and preservation of medicinal
plants

2. Trees as pure crop
• Ceasalpinia sappan L. - Chappangam, Pathimukam
• Myristica fragrans Houtt. - Jati
• Emblica officinalis Gaertn. - Nelli
• Gmelina arborea Roxb. - Kumizhu
 Shrubs as pure crop
• Plumbago indica L. - Chettikkoduveli
• Adhatoda beddomei Cl. - Chittatalotakam
• Holostemma ada-kodien Schult. - Atapatiyan
• Trichosanthes cucumerina L. - Patolam
• Acorus calamus L. - Vayambu
• Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennel - Brahmi
CULTIVATION

3.  Shrubs as intercrops
Adhatoda beddomei (Vasa – Chittatalotakam)
Parts used – Whole plant
• In Coconut plantations and for the first four years in Rubber estates
• 5 tender stem cuttings on each mound at an espacement of 2 ft
• On hill slopes directly in the soil
• Harvesting within 2 – 2½ years
• Total expenditure – Rs. 25,000 – 30,000 / acre
• Yield from intercrop – 6000 Kg – whole plant from 1 acre
• Yield from pure crop – 8000 Kg
• Price per Kg. – Rs. 15
• Net Profit – Rs. 65,000 / acre (in intercropping)
Rs. 95,000 / acre (from pure crop)

4.  Shrubs as intercrops
Nilgirianthus ciliatus (Sahachara – Karimkurinji)
Parts used: Root and a part of stem
• Propagation by tender stem cuttings – In Rubber and Coconut
plantations
• Harvesting time – within 2 –3 years
• Total expenses – Rs. 22,000 – 25,000 / acre
• Yield per acre – 8,000 – 10,000 Kg (root and stem)
• Price per Kg. – Rs. 6.50 (Fresh); Rs. 21 (Semi-processed)
(Reduction in weight after drying 50%)
• Net Profit – Rs. 30,000 – 40,000 / acre

5.  Shrubs as intercrops
Baliospermum solanifolium (Danti – Nagadanti)
Part used - Roots
• Propagation – Stem cuttings with 3 – 4 nodes
• 4 cuttings on each mound having one foot diameter and 20
cm height.
More economical than planting rooted seedlings in pits
• Harvesting – within 2 –3 years
• Yield – 6000 Kg from 1 acre
• Total expenses – Rs. 30,000 / acre
• Price - Rs. 18/Kg - Semi-processed (cut into 2" long pieces)
fresh roots
• Net profit – Rs. 78,000 / acre
The leaves and tender aerial portion can be used as green manure
to coconut trees

6.  Shrubs as intercrops
Plumbago indica (Chitraka – Chettikkoduveli)
Part used – Roots
• Propagation by tender stem cuttings having 3 nodes
• Planted on raised manured beds without much interspace
• Alluvial soil with drainage capacity is more suitable
• Harvesting – within 1½ - 2 years
• Yield – 2 – 2½ tons
• Total expenses – Rs. 40,000 – 50,000 / acre
• Price per Kg – Rs. 55
• Net profit – Rs. 70,000 – 87,500 / acre
Additional profit can be made by the sale of seedlings of the
above four items from 2nd year onwards

7.  Shrubs as intercrops
Clitoria ternatea (Aparajita – Sankhupushpam)
Parts used – Whole plant and roots
• Propagation through seeds
• Seedlings planted on raised beds at a distance of 20 cm
• Bright sunlight is required
• Harvesting – within 6 months
• Total expenses – Rs. 10,000 – 15,000 / acre
• Yield / acre – 2,000 – 2,500 Kg
• Price – Rs. 20 / Kg (Whole plant)
• Net Profit – Rs. 30,000 – 35,000 / acre

8.  Shrubs as intercrops
Coleus zeylanicus (Valakam – Iruveli)
Parts used – root and stem
• Tender stem cuttings are planted on beds at 15–20 cm
distance
• Harvesting – Within 6 – 9 months
• Expenses – Rs. 15,000 / acre
• Yield – 1000 Kg (dried and semi processed root and stem)
• Price – Rs. 65 – 70 / Kg
• Net Profit – Rs. 50,000 / acre

9.  Shrubs as intercrops
Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi)
Part used : Whole plant
• Can be cultivated in paddy fields and
marshy places using stem cuttings
• Expenses – Rs. 50,000 / acre
• Yield – 10,000 – 12,000 Kg
• Price – Rs. 10 / Kg
• Net Profit – 50,000 – 70,000 / acre
3 harvests possible in a year

10.  Shrubs as intercrops
Pseudarthria viscida (Saliparni – Orila)
Desmodium gangeticum (Prisniparni – Moovila)
Part used - Roots
• As a cover crop in Rubber plantations for first 4 years
• Planting – Simple broadcasting of seeds in ploughed field
• Harvesting – Within 6 months
• Expense – Rs. 50,000 / acre
• Net Profit – Rs. 30,000 / acre

11. Special methods of cultivation
Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R. Br.
Sans. : Anantamulah, Sariba
Mal.: Nannari, Naruneendi
• Propagation through seeds
Usual Practice
• Planting of 4 leaved seedlings on raised beds at
an espacement of 1 inch.
• Harvesting – Too expensive; wastage is high

12. Wastage during harvesting of H. indicus roots
No. plants in one
bundle
Wt. of roots
obtained (Kg)
Wastage during
harvest (gm)
20 4.800 80
20 5.000 40
20 4.400 60
20 3.200 50

13. Special method – Cultivation in Bamboo
Hemidesmus indicus
• 2 m long, thick, vertically split bamboo stems
• Remove nodal partitions except at basal node & make
holes on lowest nodal partition
• Rejoin the two bamboo halves using nylon rope
• Fill the bamboo stem with potting mixture
• 2 or 3 rooted seedlings are planted on the top and the
bamboo stems are kept erect in the soil
• Harvest the entire roots after two years by separating the
bamboo halves
• No damage and wastage
• Yield – 300 g / bamboo bit

14. Propagation of Hemidesmus-
stages
Splitting of Bamboo

15. Removal of nodal portion

16. Making holes in the last nodal portion

17. Tying split bamboos with nylon rope

18. Filling Bamboo with potting mixture

19. Painting last internode and making hole in the
ground for fixing bamboo

20. Overall view

21. Placing seedling on top of bamboo

22. Harvesting

23. Special method – Cultivation in long polybags
Holostemma ada-kodien Schult.
Sans. Jeevanthi; Mal. Atapathiyan
• Useful parts – Tuberous roots
• Propagation – Seeds and roots
Usual practice
• Cultivated either on soil beds or on mounds
• Harvesting – Too expensive; wastage high
Wastage during harvesting of H. ada-kodien
No. of plants in
one mound
Fresh wt. of roots
obtained (gm)
Wastage during
harvesting (gm)
5 875 15.0
5 600 10.0
5 950 15.1
5 540 13.8

24. Special method - Holostemma ada-kodien
• Half of the polybags are filled with potting mixture
• Keep them in 15 cm deep pits at a distance of 1ft
• 2 rooted seedlings are planted in each polybag
• Bamboo splits as support to the polybag and to the
plant
• Organic manuring twice at 6 months interval
• Harvest after two years
• Roots are extracted by tearing the polybags
• No damage and wastage

25. Propagation in polythene bags using
bamboo splits as support

26. Propagation in polythene bags
Overall view

27. Harvesting of root from polybag

28. Harvesing, Semi-processing & storage
Problems in existing practices
Harvesting
Unscientific harvesting of roots
Roots from shrubs
Eg.: Sida rhombifolia ssp. retusa (Bala – Kurunthotti)
Pseudarthria viscida (Saliparni – Moovila)
Desmodium gangeticum (Prisniparni – Orila)
• Collection before seed setting and seed dispersal
• Wastage due to simple plucking
No. Sida plants in
a bundle
Fresh
weight (Kg)
Wastage
(gm)
100 2.70 0.9
100 2.95 2.1
Wastage in harvesting
Sustainable method
• Use iron crowbar for
loosening the soil
• Collection after fruiting
season
• Keep small area
untouched for natural
regeneration

29. Unscientific harvesting of tuberous roots
Eg.: Asparagus racemosus Willd.
• The whole bunch of roots is dug out
• Large and medium sized roots are taken leaving the
small ones as waste
No. of roots from 2 yr
old plant
Fresh wt. (Kg) Wastage
(Kg)
82 3.450 1.8
72 3.000 1.5
Collect only large and stout tuberous roots
Allow further growth of the plant Sustainable method
Wastage in harvesting

30. Unscientific harvesting of roots from trees
Eg.: Aegle marmelos (L.) Corr.
Oroxylum indicum (L.) Benth. ex Kurz
• No. of preparations in which used – 77
• The whole tree is cut down to take the roots!!!
Wastage during hervesting
Sustainable method
• Collect only the mature side roots - tap root undisturbed
Harvest of leaves 3 times / year, Harvest of fruits once a year
Plant species Age of the
tree (Yrs)
Total raw drug
obtained (Kg)
Wastage
(Kg)
A. marmelos 14 90.0 20.0
A. marmelos 14 125.0 10.0
O. indicum 14 60.0 9.5
O. indicum 14 61.0 9.0

31. Unscientific extraction of bark
Eg.: Holarrhena pubescens (Buch.-Ham.) Don
• By cutting down the entire tree and chopping the main stem and branches
• Removing the entire bark from the existing tree
Wastage during harvesting
Sustainable method
• Remove only 1/3 of the mature bark
• Remove only the outer and the middle bark leaving the inner bark for regeneration
Advantage - Extraction 4 times a year
without killing the tree
Age of the tree (Yrs) Quantity of bark obtained (Kg) Wastage (Kg)
13 16.0 5.050
15 12.5 5.200
17 28.0 6.250
18 33.0 8.000

32. Extraction of bark from Holarrhena pubescens
Unscientific method Sustainable method


33. Unscientific collection of fruits
Eg.: Emblica officinalis Gaertn
Garcinia gummi-gutta (L.) Roxb.
• By cutting down the fruit bearing branches
Sustainable method
• Collect the fruits alone by hand or with hooks
(Precaution against mechanical damage)
Unscientific extraction of black dammer
Canarium strictum Roxb.
• Make incision on the stem& set fire underneath the tree
• Collect the exuded resin using chopper after a month
Avoid fire setting underneath the tree

34. Collection at improper time
•Nature and quantity of chemical constituent
– high seasonal variation
• Best time of collection
– Highest content of active principles in plant parts
– Maximum quantity on drying
Eg.: Acacia catechu (Heart wood) – November–January
Acorus calamus (Rhizome) – May–July
Terminalia arjuna (Bark) – February–April

35. Semi-processing
• Small pieces get wasted while slicing (Roots& heart wood) and
wastage will increase when slicing is done after drying (Tuberous
roots)
• Fungal attack due to improper drying methods (Fruits, bark, whole
plant etc.)
Suggestion
• Keep the semi-processing yard clean
• Dry the raw material up to desired moisture content
Eg.Gooseberry fruits: dry till fruits attain 65% loss in weight
Holarrhena bark - dry till bark attain 67% loss in weight
Oroxylum root chips - dry till attain 54% loss in weight
• Slice the raw material just after harvesting and washing

36. Problems in storage
• Fungal attack due to insufficient drying
• Rodent attack and contamination by excreta
• Attack of insects
• Decaying due to storage in unhygienic condition
Suggestions: Proper drying, packing and storage in
hygienic, well–ventilated go-downs
Plant species Driage (%)
Aegle marmelos 37
Emblica officinalis 65
Holostemma ada-kodien 67
Holarrhena pubescens 67
The required % of driage in various plant species
Other remedial measures: Fumigation, treatment using chemicals and
radioactive rays ?
Further research & documentation is required