FARMWEALTH BIO TECH

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	Gloriosa superba

	Malabar Neem

	Aloe vera

	Ashwagandha

	Coleus

	Annatto

	Jatropha

	Safed Musli

Gloriosa Superba

Botanical name: Gloriosa superba L

English name: Glory lily, Lily flower

Local name: Kalihari (Hindi), Nabhikkodi (Tamil)

Family: Lilaceae

Origin:
It is native of Tropical Asia and Africa and is commonly known as Glory Lilly or Malabar Glory Lilly.

Introduction:
Colchicine, the main principle alkaloid of Gloriosa superba is a biologically active molecule, possessing anti-inflammatory, antimiotic and tumor- inhibiting activities. Colchicines may offer a lease of hope to the patients with liver cirrhosis.

Climatic conditions:
This crop requires tropical and sub tropical type of climate with annual rainfall of 70 cm. It grows well up to 1000 MSL. The best growing temperature ranges from 15 to 35 degree centigrade but can tolerate slight higher or lower temperatures. The crop requires high humidity during flowering.

Soil requirement:
Red, red sandy, sandy loam soil with pH ranges from 6.0 to 7.0 is ideal for this corp. The soil must have good drainage facility. The crop cannot withstand water logging conditions.

Propagation:
This crop is propagated through V shaped tubers. 50–60 gm tubers are ideal for cultivation. Very small and under developed tubers are slow in germination and also yields poor. Large sized tubers may be divided in to two pieces by cutting them from the middle with a knife and treating the cut portion of the tubers by Bavistin to prevent from fungus attack at the exposed surface. Healthy tubers should be selected for plantation purpose.

Quantity of tubers required:
One acre requires 500 to 700 kgs tubers. The tip of the tubers should not be damaged as germination takes place from the tips. Tubers should be treated with 0.2 % Bavistin and kept under the shade during plantation.

Plantation time

Plantation should be done in July- August. Plantation in the field should be done in morning or evening hours in order to protect the tubers from being exposed to bright sunlight during noon hours.

Field preparation:
Field should be ploughed 4-5 times until it comes to a fine tilth. All the grass stubbles, roots etc should be removed from the field. The field should be leveled properly and proper arrangements should be made for drainage to avoid water logging conditions during rains. Water logging conditions in the field are not favourable for crop growth
Plantation:
Furrows with 10-15 cm depth made with the spacing of 6 feet between the furrows. Selected tubers are placed in middle of the furrows with the spacing of about 30-45 cm. The tubers are covered with soil. Gloriosa is a cross pollinated crop so closer spacing helps in pollination
Wiring & support:
About 4 feet long wooden sticks are fixed along the sides of the furrows at the distance of about 15 feet between sticks. 4 steel wires are tied parallel to the wooden sticks. Sorghum straw or “Naanal” straw are inserted in between the steel wires. This facilitates the plant to climb
Fertilizer requirement:
About 6 MT of well decomposed farm yard manure should be incorporated in the soil at the time of field preparation.

At the time of planting
Super phosphate                                  - 150 kgs per acre
Agromin (micro nutrient)                    - 20 kgs per acre
Calbor (micro nutrient)                       - 10 kgs per acre
After 15 days of germination
Factomphos (20:20:0:13)                   - 50 kgs per acre
After 30 days of germination (branching stage)
Ground nut cake                                 - 100 kgs per acre
Agromin                                              - 20 gm / 10 liter of water
Celamin (Zn)                                       - 10 gm / 10 liter of water
Chelafer (Fe)                                       - 10 gm / 10 liter of water
(Agromin, Celamin & Chelafer are dissolved in water separately and then should be sprayed together thrice at 7 days intervals).
Ground nut cake should be applied in two split doses, at 7-8 days interval
After 60 days of germination (budding stage)
Application of any growth promoting hormone eg.Vipul @ 2 ml per litre water.
After 110 days of germination (pod setting stage)
Ammonium sulphate                           - 15 kgs / acre
Potassium                                            - 25 kgs / acre
The same dose should be repeated once again at 7- 10 days interval.

Irrigation:
First irrigation should be applied immediately just after the plantation of the tubers. After that at a 7- 10 days interval based on the soil conditions. Light irrigations should be applied and water logging conditions should not be present in the field.

Pollination:
Hand pollination is required for higher yield. Muslin cloth or cotton tied sticks can be used for pollination. Pollination should be done in morning hours preferably 7-10 AM after which the pollens becomes less receptive due to higher temperature (more sunlight).

Weeding & intercultural operations:
The field should remain weed free otherwise the weeds will not allow the Gloriosa plant to grow and develop properly. Hand weeding is the best method. Care should be taken that during weeding the plant is not damaged. During intercultural operations earthing if any tuber requires should be done by covering the tuber with soil. Tubers should not remain exposed and when ever irrigation is done one should check if earthing of tuber is required not.

Plant protection measures:
Pest
Green cater piller is the major pest for this crop. Spraying of 0.1 % Decis (Deltamethrine 25 EC) at the time of vegetative stage will control this pest.

Disease
During the time of heavy rainfall and winter, the plant is affected by root rot. To control this, the soil should be drenched with 0.2 % Copper oxy chloride.
Leaf spot is another disease which affects this crop. This can be controlled effectively by giving first spray of Dithane M45 @ 2.5 gm + Bavistin @ 1 gm / 1 lit of water and giving second spray of Mancozeb + metaloxyl @ 2 gm / 1 lit of water.
Harvesting:
First harvest can be done at 150th day after germination. The right stage of harvesting is when the capsule starts turning pale green or brown and the skin of the fruit shows a shrunken appearance and becomes light in weight. At this stage, when pressed, the pod gives a cracking sound. After harvesting the pods are shade dried for 15 days and then the seeds are removed from the pods by gently beating the pods with sticks. The seeds are separated from the husk and further dried on the floor in sun for a week to bring the moisture level to the extent that does not affect the storage.

Yield per acre:
Approximately 150 kg of dried seeds are obtained from the newly planted (I year) crop and 250 kgs from second year onwards.

Packaging:
After the seeds are well dried the material should be packed in clean, dried gunny bags.

Storage:
The material in gunny bags should be stored under cool and dry conditions.