Lemon grass  
(Cymbopogon flexuosus Nees.)

Uses: Extensively used in perfumery and cosmetics

Parts Used: Leaves and shoot

Active Ingredients: Citral (75-85%)

Commercial preparation: Soaps, detergents, perfumes, flavouring, confectionery and  medicines.  

Cultural Practices:

¨      Season: Perennial

¨      Propagation: Slips

¨      Varieties: Sugandhi (OD-19, NLG-84)

¨      Population: 30-35 thousand plants /ha

¨      Manures and Fertilizers: FYM @ 10 t/ha, N 100 kg/ha in 3-4 splits and basal application of 50 kg/ha each of P2O5 and K2O was found optimum.

¨      Irrigation: Once in a week during establishment and after each harvest

¨      Crop Duration: Five years

¨      Harvest: First harvest at 90 DAP, subsequently at  50-60 days interval depending upon soil and climatic condition

¨     Post Harvest: Harvested herbage are distilled for oil extraction

¨     Yield: 15 t/ha/harvest (oil recovery 0.3-0.6%)