Stevia is a perennial shrub native to South America. It is grown as an annual crop for its sweet-tasting leaves which contain steviol glycosides, compounds up to 300 times sweeter than sugar but with no calories. Stevia prefers well-drained soil and a climate with moderate temperatures. It is propagated through stem cuttings and transplanted as seedlings. Harvesting occurs after 3-4 months, yielding a dried leaf powder high in steviol glycosides which is used as a natural sweetener.

2. University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot
Kittur Rani Channamma College of Horticulture,Arabhavi
Production Technology of Stevia

4. STEVIA SWEET HERB
• Botanical Name : Stevia rebaudiana
• Family : Asteraceae
• Common Name : Meethi Tulsi

5. Description
• Stevia is a perennial leafy green plant commonly known
as sweet herb of Paraguay
• Stevia is a small shruby perennial growing up to 65 to
75 cm tall with sessile, oppositely arranged lanceolate
leaves serrated above the middle, flowers are small,
white and arranged in an irregular cyme.
• Stevia is short day plant with critical length of 13 hrs.
• The plant is commercially grown in China, Japan, south
Korea, India, Ukraine, Australia, Canada, Mexico, United
States of America, UK, Belgium, Germany, Spain and
many countries in South America.

6. • The plant is gradually gaining interest all over the world
due to presence of zero calorie sweetener compounds
such as Stevioside (8.0-11.0%) and Rebaudioside A (2-
4%).
• Stevia holds 47% of the sweeteners market in Japan.
Stevia is lesser known plant and accepted only as a
dietary suppliment in many countries including USA.
• In some countries upto 30% of their needed sugar is
replaced by chemical-based (synthetic) stevioside like
sweetness products.

8. Benefits
• No calories and it is natural.
• pH and heat stable upto 200°C (392 0 F ).
• Does not affect blood sugar levels.
• Non-toxic and non-addictive sweetener.
• Non-fermentative and non- discolouring.
• Bactericidal activity.
• Potent: 250 to 300 times sweeter than sugar.
• Various medicinal uses.

9. Application areas
• Flavour enhancer.
• Herbal tea.
• Preparation of Pharmaceutical products.
• Food and beverages application as a
replacement for sugar and artificial sweeteners
and also combined with other sweeteners.
• Added to products such as chewing gum, tooth
paste, mouthwash and even an anti-smoking
lozenge.

10. Medicinal Uses
• Hypoglycemic action: Helpful for hypoglycemia and
diabetes.
• Cardiovascular action: The long term use would have a
cardio tonic action.
• Antimicrobial action: Inhibits the growth and
reproduction of bacteria and other infectious
organisms.
• Digestive Tonic action: Improves digestion, and overall
gastrointestinal functions (Kinghorn,D.,1991)
• Skin Problems: Effective when applied to
acne, seborrhea, dermatitis, eczema.

11. • Sharipova et.al. (2011), Studied anti-
tuberculosis activity of glycosides from Stevia
and hybrid compounds of steviolbioside and
pyridinecarboxylic acid hydrazides.
Study showed that stevioside and
steviolbioside, glycosides from stevia in addition
to hybrid compounds synthesized from
steviolbioside and the anti-tuberculosis drug
isoniazed and its isomer nicotinic acid hydrazide
exihibited moderate anti-tuberculosis activity
against M. tuberculosis.

12. Types of Stevia Products
1. Stevia leaves:-
a. Fresh leaves b. Dried Leaves
c. Tea Cut Leaves d. Ground leaves (powder)
2. Liquid Extracts:-
Dark or Clear: dissolved in water or alcohol or glycerin.
3. Stevia Extracts:-
a. 40-50% Sweet Glycosides
b. 85-95% : greater concentration
4. Stevioside:-
Stevioside is the purified or most highly processed form of Stevia.

13. 5. Stevia Blends or spoonable Stevia:-
Fillers used:
Dextrose, lactose, Maltodextrin, Fructo-
oligosaccharides
6. Stevia Packets:-
Convenient and pre-measured servings.
7. Stevie quick dissolving tablets:-
Mainly used to sweeten beverages.

18. Climate and soil
• Stevia is grown as a perennial in subtropical and mild temperate
regions but must be grown as an annual in mid and high altitudes.
• This is a short day plant. The concentration of steviosides in the
leaves increases when grown under long day conditions.
• Average maximum and minimum temperature should not exceed
10°-37°C during the active crop growth period; the crop thrives
well in relative humidity ranging from 65 to 85 %.
• Stevia can tolerate rains but is prone to frost.

19. Stevia can grow well on a wide range of soils. It
performs better in well-drained red soil and sandy loam
soil. The soil should be well prepared having good
textured soil to support plant growth.
Optimum supply of moisture and drainage is necessary
for proper growth of the plant. Soil pH should be within
the range of 5.5-7.5. Most of the soils good for
vegetable are also suitable for Stevia cultivation.

20. • Lal et. al., (2011) studied the registration of high
yielding variety CIMAP Madhu of Stevia.
CIMAP Madhu was found to be highly promising for high
fresh and dry leaf yield (4.3 t/ha) with high stevioside
(12.57 %), rebaudoside(5.8%) with low dulcoside-A
content (0.2%) and less pungent stevia leaves against
check, ( herb yield 2.6t/ha, stevioside 3.63%,
rebaudoside 3.32% & dulcoside-A content 3.69%)

21. Propagation
• Stevia plants can be propagated from cuttings as well as through
seeds. In many of the cultivars, seed germination rate is poor and
crop raised through seedlings take more time to establish.
Therefore, it is best grown through transplanting as an annual or
perennial crop.

22. Nursery Raising
• Nursery raising through seeds should be done in the month
of February-March.
• Germination of seeds takes place within 10-15 days. Seeds
can be sown in plastic trays, pots, wooden boxes or in raised
nursery beds of size 1.25 m x 10 m having a good mixture of
sand, soil and organic manure.
• Nursery should be irrigated with sprinkler daily in morning
and evening for first five days and once a day during next
five days.
• One month old seedlings of 5-7 leaves stage and 8-10 cm
height become ready for transplanting.

23. Nursery Raising

24. • Two saplings can be raised successfully by vegetative means
using terminal cuttings of 10-15 cm height with 3-6 nodes.
• Stem cuttings should be taken from actively growing plants
during the months of mild weather avoiding extreme cold or
hot months.
• Lower leaves are trimmed to facilitate planting. Cuttings are
raised in pots or poly sleeves. In nursery beds the cuttings are
planted at 15 x 15 cm spacing keeping one node inside the
soil. Cutting raised under partial shade .
• Under high humidity develops roots at faster rate within 8-10
days. Later on irrigation is done twice a week or as and when
required. Spraying of Bavistin(0.1%) and Thiodan (0.25%) is
done to keep the plants free from diseases and insect pest.

25. • Ingle et.al., studied the effect of IBA
concentrations and different environments on
rooting of stevia cuttings.
The study revealed that the higher rooting
percentage 90% was found in the mist
environment followed by shaded poly tunnel
(88.78%).
Also rooting percentage was recorded higher in
the cuttings treated with IBA 500 ppm followed
by 400 &300 ppm.

27. Transplanting in field
• Rooted cuttings of 4-5 weeks old are
transplanted in the field.
• Stevia is generally transplanted in the field during
March-April and June-July avoiding periods of
extreme climate.
• Land should be prepared by repeatedly
ploughing and harrowing. Irrigation and drainage
channels should be laid out as per the layout of
the field.
• Transplanting is done in furrows at a spacing of
45 x 45 cm.

28. Manures and fertilizers
• Most like leafy vegetables, Stevia is fertilized
through organic manures considering a low
nutrients consuming plant.
• A well-rotted 25-30 t/ha farmyard manure
application at the time of field preparation is
sufficient to grow a successful crop.

29. • Vasanthi et.al., (2011) studied the effect of different
spacings and fertilizer levels on leaf yield quality and
nutrient uptake of stevia.
The study revealed that spacing 45 X 22.5 cm and
fertilizer level 70:35:45 kg NPK + FYM @ 10 t/ha
combination recorded maximum fresh leaf yield and
stevioside content under Bangalore condition.
.

30. • Vasanthi et.al., (2011) studied the effect of
spacings and fertilizer levels on growth and
productivity of stevia.
The study revealed that spacing 45 X 22.5 cm
and fertilizer level 70:35:45 kg NPK + FYM @ 10
t/ha combination recorded significantly
maximum plant height, maximum plant spread,
maximum number of branches, highest fresh
leaf yield correspondingly highest dry yield per
hectare.

31. Irrigation and drainage
• Stevie cannot tolerate drought, therefore
frequent irrigation is required.
• First irrigation is given immediately after
transplanting and another after 2-3 days.
• Subsequent watering is done weekly till onset of
monsoon.
• However, actual numbers of irrigations are
based on moisture holding capacity of the soil
and occurrence of the natural precipitation.

32. Weeding and hoeing
• Removal of weeds can be done manually.
Hence, two time hand weeding and one hoeing
are sufficient to keep the weeds under control.

33. Harvesting
• Harvesting is done manually leaving 8-10 cm stem
height from the ground level.
• A first harvest is taken 75-90 days after
transplanting in the month of June-July.
• Subsequent second harvest is taken after 60-75
days of the first harvest in early September at the
time of flower bud initiation.
• In case of late transplanting crop grown for single
cut, harvesting is done after 3-4 months of
transplanting and continues till flowering begins as
the sweetener is maximum in the leaves till the
plant flowers.

34. • Perennial crop may continue up to four
years, once planted in the same field.
• Maximum amount of leaves are produced in 3rd
or 4th years.
• Flowering of the plant should be avoided and
pinching of the apical bud should be done to
enhance bushy growth of the plant with side
branches.

35. Yield
• Average fresh biomass yield of 25-30 ton/ha/ yr
out of two harvest is obtained which give dry
herb weight of 4-5 ton/ha/yr.
• Leaf powder being commercial part has a
significant meaning in terms of its yield. Dried
leaf yield of 13-16 q/ha can be separated from
the total biomass yield.

36. Post harvest practices
• After harvesting, the whole plant is dried & the leaves
are separated from the stems for further processing.
• The stems have very low concentrations of sweet
glycosides and are removed to minimize processing cost.
• The dried leaves are powdered and stored in airtight
containers or plastic bags in a cool place.
• Dried leaf powder can be directly marketed without
further processing by the farmers.

37. Water extraction of the dried leaves is followed by
clarification and crystallization processes which
facilitate production of stevioside and rebaudioside.
Most commercial processes consist of water
extraction, discoloration and purification using ion-
exchange resins, electrolytic techniques, or
precipitating agents. Most of the commercial
processes are protected by way of patent and other
IPR protection ways.

38. References:
• Agarwal, V. K and Upadya, S. D., 2006, Agro techniques of
Medicinal and Aromatic Crops, Satish Serial Publish
House, Delhi.
• Alice Kurian, M., Asha Sankar., 2007, Medicinal Plants, New
India Publishing Agency.
• Vasanthi, K. D., Vasundhara, M., Gowda, M. C., Byanna, C. N.
2011, Effect of spacings and fertilizer levels on leaf
yield, quality and nutrient uptake of Stevia, Crop Research
(Hissar) 41(1/3) 103-106 Hissar, India.

39. • Vasanthi, K. D., Vasundhara, M., Gowda, M. C., Byanna, C. N.
2011, Effect of spacings and fertilizer levels on leaf yield,
quality and nutrient uptake of Stevia, Crop Research (Hissar)
41(1/3) 107-112 Hissar, India.
• Lal, R. K., Chandra, R., Gupta, M. M., Singh, A. K., Manju
Singh., Verma, R. K., Misra, R. O., Kalara, A., Gupta, A. K., Lal,
C., Sigh, H. P., Kumar, B., Singh, H. N., Shankar, H., Dhawan,
O. P., Krishna, A., Bansal, K., Henarizvi, Bansal, R. P.,
Chauhan, H. S., Sinhg, S., Zaim , M., Bahl, J. R., Pandey, R.
2011, Registration of high yielding variety CIMAP Madhu of
Stevia . J. Med. Arom. Pl. Sci.,33(1): 77-80.

40. • Sharipova, R. R., Strobykina, I. Y., Mordovskoi, G. G.,
Chestnova, R. V., Mironov, V. F., Katave, Y. E. 2011,
Antituberculosis activity of glycosides from Stevia rebaudiana
compounds of steviolbioside and pyridinecarboxylic acid
hydrazides. Chemistry of Natural Compounds, 46(6): 902-905.
• Ingle, M. R., Venugopal, C. K. Effect of IBA concentrations and
different environments on rooting of stevia cuttings. South
Indian Horticulture, 58 .