Shatavari Plants

RAISING PROPAGULES

Seeds are sown during the April -may in well-prepared and raised nursery beds containing good amount of FYM (farmyard manure). The beds should ideally be 10 m 1m in size. Seeds are sown in lines 5 cm apart and covered with a mixture of FYM and soil. The beds are lightly watered at regular intervals using a rose water cane.

PROPAGULES RATE AND PRE-TREATMENT

About 7 kg of seeds are required for raising seedlings for 1 hectare of crop. To obtain early and higher germination percentage, presoaking in water is required. Higher germination is also achieved by soaking the seeds in cow urine for 24 hours. The germination commences after 20 days of sowing and is completed in 30 days.

LAND PREPARATION AND FERTILIZER

The land should be given a deep disc plugging, followed by harrowing and leveling. The field is normally divided into plots, keeping one irrigation channel in between two rows of plots. About 10 tones of well-decomposed FYM are thoroughly mixed in the soil one month before transplanting. Shatavar. A fertilizer dose of 40 kg nitrogen, 20 kg phosphate, and 20 kg potash per hectare may be applied for better growth and higher tuberous root yield. One-third of nitrogen and entire dose of phosphate and potash should be placed 1012 cm deep in the rows before transplanting

TRANSPLANTING AND OPTIMUM SPACING

The seedlings are ready for transplanting after 50-60 days of sowing. These are transplanted in field at the onset of monsoon in July. Keeping the plant-to-plant distance at 60 cm. Optimum number of seedlings required per hectare using the recommended spacing is about 150000.

INTERCROPPING SYSTEM

Satavar is normally grown as a monocrop, but it can be grown in inter spaces available in orchards having low light interception. Plants need staking material, thus poles or shrubs serve for support.

IRRIGATION AND INTERCROPPING

• The field is irrigated immediately after planting if there are no rains for 2-3 days.
• Satavar can be grown in rain-fed condition as well as irrigated. 
• On availability of irrigation water irrigation at the interval of 25-30 days may be given.
• Frequent unwanted grass is required during its early period of growth.
• Care should be taken to avoid any damage to growing shoots at the time of unwanted grass. Totally, about 2-3 hand unwanted grass is needed to keep crop free of unwanted grass.

INTERCULTURAL AND MAINTENANCE PRACTICES

The balance two-third N is applied in two equal split doses during September and in late February. The fertilizer is broadcast in between the rows and mixed in soil Followed by irrigation, if the soil is dry. Satavar initially grows slowly for 60 days, which keeps inter-row space virtually vacant, allowing easy unwanted grass growth. It is necessary to carry out unwanted grass and hoeing operations to keep the field free from unwanted grass for initial two-month period.  After two months, Satavar grows enough to cover the inter row spaces and prevents unwanted grass  growth.

DISEASE AND PEST CONTROL

No serious insects, pests, and disease have been reported in this crop.

PLANT PROTECTION

No serious pest and disease has been noticed in this crop

CROP MATURITY & HARVESTING

The crop matures in 18 months after planting. Rabi season, that is, November December, is the best time for harvesting tuberous roots when the above-ground parts start turning pale yellow. The crop, when harvested in 18 months, yields about 45 tones/hectare, while harvesting after 20 months yields about 6tones/hectare of tubers along with 35 kg hectare of seeds.

YIELD & COST OF CULTIVATION

The tuberous root yields 15%20% of dry matter after removal of outer wall. An average shade-dried tuberous root yield of 4-5 tons per hectare is obtained from 18-month-old plants under experimental conditions. Including land preparation, nursery rising, cost of planting material, FYM, cost of transplanting, harvesting, peeling and processing for market, and so on.  The calculated yield of 18- month-old crop of Satavar is 4-5 tones/hectare, which can fetch net returns of approximately Rs 1-1.25 laces/hectare.

POST HARVESTING

The harvested toots are thoroughly washed preferably in flowing water, Thereafter, inner woody threads are removed by splitting the roots. The thin root barks are removed by scraping with a knife or incising them. In the traditional method, the roots are also kept in a bamboo basket on a pot of boiling water for five to ten minutes to facilitate easy removal of thread and root bark. But this method is really not required when freshly collected roots are peeled off. The roots are then dried in the shade for 8-10 days. The fresh roots lose about 90% of their weight after peeling and drying. In case of delay in peeling, it becomes extremely difficult later on. Value addition of root powder enhances marketability and sale and price. The roots get damaged within 3 to 4 months if threads in not immediately removed.

YIELD

Average yield per acre is 2000 kg dried roots and.