Useful for D. Pharm / B. Pharm / PharmD

1. Cultivation, collection,
processing and storage of crude
drugs
Asst.professor
Gayatri Patra
EPCP, Bangalore

2. Cultivation:
• Definition: Cultivation refers to the deliberate and systematic process of preparing,
tending, and nurturing plants or crops for their growth and development. It involves
various agricultural practices, including planting, watering, fertilizing, and protecting plants
to optimize their yield and quality.
• Advantages of Cultivation:
• Food Production:
• Description: Cultivation is essential for producing food crops, ensuring a stable food
supply for human consumption.
• Example: Growing staple crops like rice, wheat, and maize.
• Economic Opportunities:
• Description: Cultivation creates employment opportunities and contributes to the
economy through the production and sale of agricultural products.
• Example: Farmers selling their produce in local markets or to larger distributors.

3. • Raw Materials for Industries:
• Description: Many industries rely on cultivated crops as raw materials for the production
of goods.
• Example: Cotton cultivation for the textile industry.
• Disadvantages of Cultivation:
• Environmental Degradation:
• Description: Intensive cultivation practices can lead to deforestation, soil erosion, and
loss of biodiversity.
• Example: Clearing large areas of forests for agriculture.
• Pesticide and Fertilizer Pollution:
• Description: Excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers can lead to water and soil
pollution, impacting ecosystems and human health.
• Example: Runoff of agricultural chemicals into rivers and lakes.

4. Factors Affecting Cultivation
• Cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants take cognizance of plant
habitats and climatic requirements for their favourable growth.
• Here are some key factors that commonly affect
cultivation:
1. Altitude, temperature and humidity
2. Rainfall or Irrigation
3. Soil and soil fertilizers.
4. Fertilizers and manures
5. Pests and pest control

5. 1. Altitude, temperature and humidity
• Altitude is a very important factor in cultivation of medicinal plants.
• The following are the examples of medicinal and aromatic plants
indicating the altitude for their successful cultivation.
Plant Altitude (Metres)
Tea 1000 – 1500
Cinchona 1000 – 2000
Camphor 1500 – 2000
Cinnamon 250 – 1000
Coffee 1000 – 2000
Clove Upto 900
Saffron Upto 1250
Cardamom 600 – 1600

6. • Temperature is another factor affecting the growth of a plant.
• The following are few examples of range conducive for luxuriant growth of certain medicinal plants.
• Range of temperature favourable for cultivation of medicinal plants
Plant Optimum Temperature (°F)
Cinchona 60 – 75
Coffee 55 – 70
Tea 70 – 90
Cardamom 50 - 100
Country Range of temperature in (°C)
Australia 10 – 30
France 01 – 20
Germany 05 – 25
Italy 10 - 20

7. 2. Rainfall or Irrigation
Except the xerophytes plants like aloe, acacia and
few others, most of the plant need either proper
arrangements for irrigation or sufficient rainfall for
their favourable development.
Irrigations: It is used even for cultivation of
medicinal plants, replacing conventional dry-land
method. They are named as:
1. Drip-irrigation method
2. Sprinkler irrigation method
3. Foliar-spray method(Fogging)
Fertigation: Providing water soluble fertilizers to
crops by drip-irrigations is known as Fertigation.

8. 3. Soil and types of soil
• Soil is a crucial component of the Earth's ecosystem and plays a vital role in supporting plant life. It
is a complex mixture of minerals, organic matter, water, air, and living organisms. Soils can vary
widely in their composition, texture, structure, and fertility. The classification of soils is often based
on factors such as particle size, mineral content, and the presence of organic material. Here are the
main types of soil:
Types of soil Percentage covered
Clay soil More than 50% of clay
Loamy soil 30 to 50% of clay
Silt loam soil 20 to 30% of clay
Sandy loam soil 10 to 20% of clay
Sandy soil More than 70%
Calcarious soil More than 20% of lime
Types Particle size (diameter)
Fine clay Less than 0.002 mm
Coarse clay 0.002 to 0.02 mm
Fine sand 0.02 to 0.2 mm
Coarse sand 0.2 to 2.00 mm

9. 4. Bio stimulants
• Bio stimulants are substances or microorganisms that, when applied to plants or the soil,
stimulate natural processes to enhance nutrient uptake, stress tolerance, growth, and
crop quality.
• It can be derived from various sources, including biological, chemical, or natural materials.
5. Fertilizers and Manures
• Fertilizers are synthetic or natural substances that contain specific concentrations of
essential nutrients required for plant growth.
• They are often commercially produced and formulated to provide a targeted balance of
nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), along with other micronutrients.
• Manures are organic materials derived from the decomposition of plant and animal
wastes.
• contain a mix of organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other
micronutrients.

10. Methods of propagation
• Propagation is the process of multiplying plants to produce new
individuals. There are various methods of plant propagation,
each suited to different types of plants and specific conditions.
Here are some common methods:

11. Sexual Propagation:
1.Seed Propagation:
1. Description: Growing plants from
seeds produced by the parent plant.
2. Suitable Plants: Many annuals,
perennials, and some trees and
shrubs.
3. Process: Seeds are collected,
planted in soil or seed trays, and
provided with suitable conditions for
germination.
2.Spore Propagation:
1. Description: Certain plants,
especially ferns and mosses,
reproduce via spores.
2. Suitable Plants: Ferns, mosses, and
some fungi.
3. Process: Spores are released from
mature plants and are collected and
sown in suitable growing media.

12. Asexual Propagation (Vegetative
Propagation):
3.Cutting:
3. Description: A portion of the stem, root, or
leaf is cut and induced to develop roots and
grow into a new plant.
4. Suitable Plants: Many herbs, shrubs, and
some trees.
5. Process: Cuttings are taken, treated with
rooting hormones, and planted in a suitable
medium until roots develop.
4.Layering:
3. Description: A branch or shoot is bent
down to the ground and covered with soil
until roots develop.
4. Suitable Plants: Climbing plants, some
shrubs, and fruit trees.
5. Process: A portion of the stem is buried
while still attached to the parent plant, and
roots develop before the new plant is
separated.
5.Division:
3. Description: Large clumps or bulbs are
divided into smaller sections, each capable
of growing into a new plant.
4. Suitable Plants: Perennials, bulbs, and
some ornamental grasses.
5. Process: The parent plant is lifted, and the
clump is separated into smaller sections,
each with roots and shoots.

13. 3.Grafting:
3. Description: Joining a scion (a piece of
a plant with desirable traits) to a
rootstock (a rooted plant with a sturdy
root system).
4. Suitable Plants: Fruit trees, ornamental
plants, and some woody shrubs.
5. Process: The scion and rootstock are
joined in a way that allows them to grow
together and function as a single plant.
4.Budding:
3. Description: A single bud or bud with a
small piece of bark is inserted into the
bark of the rootstock.
4. Suitable Plants: Fruit trees and some
ornamental plants.
5. Process: A bud from the desired plant is
inserted into a T-shaped cut in the bark
of the rootstock.
5.Tissue Culture (Micropropagation):
3. Description: Growing plants from
individual cells or tissues in a laboratory
setting.
4. Suitable Plants: Often used for mass
production of plants with specific traits.
5. Process: Small pieces of plant tissue
are cultured in a nutrient medium to
produce new plants under sterile
conditions

14. Pest and types of pests
• Definition: A pest refers to any organism that causes harm,
damage, or nuisance to crops, livestock, humans, or their activities.
Pests can adversely affect agriculture, public health, and
ecosystems, leading to economic losses, health problems, or
environmental damage.
• Types of Pests:
1.Insects:
1. Examples: Aphids, caterpillars, beetles, ants, mosquitoes.
2. Damage: Feeding on crops, transmitting diseases, damaging stored
products.
2.Rodents:
1. Examples: Rats, mice.
2. Damage: Crop destruction, contamination of food, damage to structures.
3.Weeds:
1. Examples: Dandelions, crabgrass, thistles.
2. Damage: Compete with crops for nutrients, water, and sunlight.

15. 1.Fungi:
1. Examples: Powdery mildew, rust, blight.
2. Damage: Plant diseases affecting leaves, stems, and fruits.
2.Nematodes:
1. Examples: Root-knot nematodes.
2. Damage: Attack plant roots, leading to stunted growth.
3.Arachnids:
1. Examples: Spider mites, ticks.
2. Damage: Sucking plant sap, causing leaf damage.
4.Bacteria:
1. Examples: Fire blight bacteria.
2. Damage: Plant diseases affecting various crops.
5.Viruses:
1. Examples: Tobacco mosaic virus, Tomato yellow leaf curl virus.
2. Damage: Infect plants, leading to reduced yield and quality.

16. Method of pest control
• Pest control methods can be categorized into several
approaches, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a holistic approach that
combines multiple methods for effective pest control while
minimizing environmental impact. Here are various methods of
pest control:
• Biological Control:
• Description: Introducing natural predators, parasites, or
pathogens to control pest populations.
• Example: Releasing ladybugs to control aphids or using
parasitic wasps to manage caterpillar populations.

17. • Chemical Control:
• Description: Using chemical substances (pesticides) to kill or repel pests.
• Example: Insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides are commonly used for
controlling insects, weeds, and fungi, respectively.
• Cultural Control:
• Description: Modifying agricultural practices or the environment to make it less
favorable for pests.
• Example: Crop rotation, changing planting dates, and using resistant crop
varieties.
• Mechanical and Physical Control:
• Description: Using physical barriers or mechanical methods to prevent pests
from damaging crops.
• Example: Installing nets or screens to protect crops, using traps, or physically
removing pests by hand.