Farmer's Notebook
Early maturing, short-term coleus variety
M.J. PRABU
Farm trials have recorded an average yield of 27
tonnes per hectare
PEST RESISTANT: The variety is resistant to major
pests and infestations.
THE REGIONAL Agricultural Research Station of the
Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) has released a
new short-term Coleus (Solenostemon rotundifolius)
medicinal plant variety called Nidhi for commercial
cultivation.
According to the Associate Director, Dr. P.V.
Balachandran, the tuber, which is suitable for Kerala
and Tamil Nadu, is large and oblong in shape and grows
in 135 days, 15 days quicker than other varieties.
Farm trials have recorded an average yield of 27
tonnes per hectare.
Nursery preparation
Normally tuber cuttings from the previous season are
grown in nurseries for planting in fields. The nursery
has to be prepared by mixing 100-200 kg of farmyard
manure with the soil.
Planting seed tubers in nursery is usually done during
April-May and the cuttings can be taken for planting
in the main field after 30-40 days, said Dr.
Balachandran.
About 150-170 kg of medium-sized seed tubers can be
planted on nursery beds prepared in a 500 sq. metre
area to produce cuttings sufficient for one hectare.
Favourable season
The ideal season for planting the crop in the main
field is July-August or November-December.
Planting is done on raised beds of 60-90cm width at a
spacing of 30 x15cm (30cm between rows and 15 cm
within the plants in the same row).
Dry cow-dung/poultry manure or compost at the rate of
10 tonnes a hectare can be applied at the time of
preparing the beds.
Application of compost, rice husk or saw dust at the
rate of two tonnes per hectare was found to be
beneficial in increasing the yield, according to Mr.
Kutty. In wetlands, the beds should be raised
sufficiently to limit water stagnation to the channels
between the raised beds.
Giving details on the chemical fertilizer application,
Dr. Balachandran said, about 1-2 doses of 40-60 kg of
nitrogen, 60 kg of phosphorus and 100 kg of potassium
may be applied for one hectare of cuttings
In wetlands, where earthing is not possible due to
water logging, fertilizers can be applied on the beds
and raked into the soil. Though the variety is
resistant to major pests, nematode infestation has
been observed in some areas.
Crop rotation and use of soil conditioners, such as
rice husk, can help control the spread, according to
Dr. Balachandran.
Irrigation may be stopped during the monsoon and
resumed during dry spells by allowing water to flow in
the channels. The crop can be harvested after 120-150
days. For those interested in growing this variety,
the seed tubers will be available by December at the
Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pattambi or
can be collected from farmers.
For further details readers may contact the Associate
Director of Research, Regional Agricultural Research
Station, Kerala Agricultural University, Pattambi -
679306, phone: 0466 -2212228, email:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Mario Gagho
Agra University
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