CULTIVATION
OF MEDICINAL PLANTS
The cultivation technology of vegetable drugs
involves convergence of various factors from agricultural and pharmaceutical
sphere such as soil, climate, rain fall, irrigation, altitude, temperature, use
of fertilizers and pesticides, genetic manipulation and biochemical aspects of
natural drugs.
Cultivation ensures quality and purity of medicinal
plants. It gives better yield and therapeutic effects. It ensures regular
supply of drug. Cultivation increases industrialization and helps for
unemployment problem.
Followings are the methods of cultivation:
1) Sexual
Method (Seed Propagation): It this method plants are raised from seeds and
such plants are called Seedlings.
Good Quality seeds of high germination rate should
be used for cultivation. Seeds should be free from other seeds and impurities.
Seeds should be checked for germination. Too old seeds should not be used for
cultivation. Some chemical, Hormonal and special treatments should be given to
seeds for healthy and accelerated growth of seedling.
2) Asexual
Methods: Vegetative Part of plant, such as steam or root is placed in such
an environment that develops into a new plant. Vigorous growth and new variety cannot be
achieved from this method.
FACTORS
AFFECTING THE CULTIVATION:
There are several factors that affect the
cultivation directly or indirectly.
1) Altitude,
Temperature and Humidity.
2) Rainfall
or Irrigation.
3) Soil
and Soil Fertility.
Types of Soils:
Depending upon the size of mineral matter following
names is given to the soil:
Particle Size (Diameter)/ Types of Soil
Less than 0.002 mm/ Fine Clay
0.002 To 0.02 mm/ Coarse Clay or Silt
0.02 To 0.2 mm/ Fine Sand
0.2 To 2.0 mm/ Coarse Sand
Depending upon the percentage covered by clay,
soils are classified as given below:
Type of Soil/ % Covered
1. Clay/ More than 50% of Clay
2. Loamy/ 30 to 50% of Clay
3. Silt Loam/ 20 to 30% of Clay
4. Sandy Loam/ 10 to 20% of Clay
5. Sandy Soil/ More than 70% Sandy Soil
6. Calcareous Soil/ More than 20% of Lime.
1) Fertilisers.
2) Pest
and Pest Control: Fungi, Viruses, Insects and Weeds. Non-insects like rats,
monkeys, birds, rabbits and hares, squirrels, deer, pig etc.
METHODS
OF PEST CONTROL:
1) Mechanical
Method: Destruction of pest, manually with the help of different devices.
2) Agricultural
methods.
3) Biological
methods.
4) Chemical
method: Rodentisides, Insecticides, Acaricides, Fungicides, Herbicide etc.
PLANT
GROWTH REGULATORS:
Plant growth regulators are organic compounds,
other than nutrients which affects the morphological structure and or
physiological process of plants in low concentration.
Following are the plant growth regulators:
1) Auxins.
2) Gibberellins.
3) Cytokinins.
4) Ethylene
5) Abscisic Acid (ABA)
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