Patchouli (Pogostemon Patchouli)
Varieties
Johore, Singapore and Indonesia are commonly cultivated. Out of these, Johore yields the best quality oil whereas the other two give high yield of oil.
Soil and climate
Well drained loamy soil with slightly acidic condition is suitable. The soil pH must be 5.5 to 6.5. It thrives best in hot and humid conditions, under shade of rubber, coconut, coffee, etc. The average temperature suitable for crop growth is 22°C to 28°C. It performs better in regions from 800 to 1000 m above MSL having 150 to 250 cm annual rainfall and atleast 75% humidity.
Propagation
Quality planting material of a chosen cultivar / strain suitable for superior grade essential oil is a prerequisite for successful patchouli cultivation. Two types of planting material are available viz., (a) Rooted cuttings (b) Rooted and hardened tissue culture plants. For better biomass yield and quality oil, tissue culture plants can be used. In this model, rooted cuttings have been considered. Around 5% mortality during establishment in the field is assumed.
Patchouli nursery is raised in shade by planting 10–12 cm long terminal shoot-cuttings at 10cm × 10cm spacing during rainy season. The nursery beds are kept under moist conditions. It gives 85–90% sprouting in a fortnight. These are ready for planting in about 6 to 8 weeks.
Spacing and Plant Population
The recommended spacing is 30 cm x 30 cm for open cultivation under both drip and conventional irrigation. Number of plants accommodated would be around 35000 per acre leaving allowance for irrigation channels, bunds and working area. In some parts, it is also grown at 60 cm x 60 cm spacing.
For intercropping in partial shade, 45 cm x 45 cm spacing is recommended accommodating 14000 plants per acre. In the present model 30 cm x 30 cm spacing with a plant population of 35000 per acre has been considered.
Land Preparation
After land clearing, ploughing for four times is recommended, considering the long crop duration and repeated crop harvesting. Farmyard manure (12 t/acre) is to be mixed well with the soil at the time of last ploughing. Application of Neem or pongamia cake along with FYM is recommended for control of soil borne pathogens, nematode etc.
Planting Time
Planting can be done at any time of the year except during hot months like April, May or October. Once planted, patchouli can be maintained for three years. Under well managed conditions good leaf yield is obtained for three years.
Irrigation schedule
Patchouli can be cultivated in two ways depending on the method of irrigation followed. Under conventional method, irrigation is to be provided at least twice a week. Water logging must be avoided. Number of irrigations per year will be around 60 (no watering during monsoon) with each irrigation lasting for 3 hours.
Under drip system of irrigation, drippers are spaced at a distance of 45 cm from each other with a discharge rate of 2 litres of water/hour. Irrigation for 30 minutes per day is adequate. In hot and dry season it should be up to a maximum of 60 minutes in two installments.
Harvesting
The first harvest is possible after six months of planting, when the plants are about 1m tall. With the use of tissue cultured plants, the crop maturity is quick and the first harvest can be taken three months after planting.
The plant is harvested with a sharp knife/cutter at 6-8 nodes from the apex. The new shoots emerge from the nodes and if the cutting is done too low, the subsequent harvest will be affected. After the first harvest, cutting can be taken every 3 months. During rainy season, fungicides should be sprayed after harvesting. The harvested material is dried in shade in the drying shed. Harvesting is preferably done during drier months.
Yield
Under conventional irrigation, in a pure crop of patchouli, 10 t of fresh leaves / biomass per acre is possible every year. Under drip system of irrigation, the annual yield can go up to 20 t per acre. Harvested biomass is dried under shade for 4-5 days. The average dry biomass availability per acre will be 2 to 5 t during the first year of planting, under different systems of irrigation.
Note: Market Price for Herbs and Essential Oils is volatile and the economics may vary.
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