Senna
(Cassia angustifolia Vahl.)

Uses: Laxative and  purgative.

Parts Used:   Leaves and pods

Active Ingredients: Sennosides

Commercial Preparation: Dried leaves  are used as an ingredient of Herbal Tea in Europe

India is the largest producer and exporter of senna leaves, pods and sennoside concentrate in the world market.

Cultural Practices:

¨      Soil: Well drained sandy loam to laterite soils of marginal and sub marginal with 7.0-8.5 pH

¨      Propagation: Seeds. June-July

¨      Seed rate: 5 kg / ha.  45x30 cm for higher yield

¨      Varieties: Anand late selection

¨      Manures & Fertilizer: FYM @10t/ha and 60kg/ha N in split doses at sowing, 30 DAS (thinning), after first and second picking of leaves

¨      Irrigation: Irrigation at 7 DAS is crucial

¨      Weed Management: Two-hand weeding  followed by hoeing at 25, 30 and 50 DAS are essential

¨      Pest and diseases: Damping off at seedling stage: Seed treatment of Thiram/Captan  @ 2.5 g/kg of seeds: Leaf spot:  Dithane M-45 @ 0.5% spray Pod borer: Endosulphan @ 0.05% Spray

¨      Harvesting: Harvesting starts  90 DAS and subsequently 30-35 days intervals in dry season to avoid the spoilage of leaves and pods. Leaves and pods are sun dried before storage.

¨      Yield: Pods: 7-10 q/ha., Leaves: 15-20 q/ha