Datura metel L.

Family Solanaceae
English Name Dhutra
Malayalam Name Ummam, Neela ummam
Tamil Name Umattai
Kannada Name Dattura
Telugu Name Ummetha, Dutturamu
Hindi Name Dhattura, Kaladhattura
Sanskrit Name Bhranta, Dhattura
Trade Name Dhutra
Part Used Leaf, Root, Seed
In Wild NA
Under Cultivation NA
Temperature NA
Rainfall NA
Farmers NA
Traders NA
Institution NA
Individually NA
State/Region NA
District NA
Nursery Information NA
Yield Yield per hectare is 10.5 - 14.5 tonnes of fresh plant material and 750 - 1,200 kg of seeds
Economic of cultivation Market price: Whole plant - ₹ 50 per kg (as on June 2019)
Quantitative quality standards Leaf: 1. Foreign matter : Not more than 1.0% 2. Ash : Not more than 12.0 % 3. Acid-insoluble ash : Not more than 6.5 % 4. Ethanol-soluble extractive : Not less than 4.0 % 5. Water-soluble extractive : Not less than 28.0 % Seed: 1. Foreign matter : Not more than 1.0% 2. Ash : Not more than 3.0 % 3. Acid-insoluble ash : Not more than 0.5 % 4. Ethanol-soluble extractive : Not less than 4.0 % 5. Water-soluble extractive : Not less than 14.0 %
Description Subshrubs; branches somewhat zigzag, young shoots purplish. Leaves entire or angled with acute lobes, c. 12 x 8 cm, ovate, base oblique, apex acute or acuminate; petiole to 6 cm long. Flowers solitary, axillary pedicels 1-1.5 cm long. Calyx 6-8 cm long, tubular, 5-lobed. Corolla creamy-white, with purple-blue shades, about 15 cm long, funnel-shaped; teeth 5, cuspidate. Capsule about 3 cm across, spherical, covered with short spines, dehiscence irregular. Seeds compressed, 4-5 mm long, smooth, brown.
Agro technology/Cultivation practices Prefers a rich light sandy soil, but thrives best in a fertile calcareous soil. This plant shows better growth from neutral to alkaline pH. Cultivation 1. Planting stock production: seeds are used as propagating material. For one hectare, 7-8 kg of seeds are required. 2. Field planting: After collecting the seeds from brown pods, scarify them by carefully scraping with a knife. This will help the germination process. Then soak the seeds in warm water for 24 hours. Seeds sowed in vermiculate will germinate in 3-8 weeks. March is the best time for seed sowing. Transplant the seedlings in the field when they attain 8-12 cm height during May. 3. Manuring/Fertilizer: Apply farmyard manure/compost based on plant/soil analysis. 4. Irrigation: Irrigation is necessary at the time of transplanting seedlings in the field. Thereafter, irrigate in every 10-15 days interval. 5. Pest and diseases: This species is extremely susceptible to the various viruses that affect the potato family (Solanaceae), it can act as a center of infection, so should not be grown near potatoes or tomatoes.
Harversting Plants usually start flowering after 4 months from sowing the seeds, and is the stage for harvesting. Subsequent harvests can be done in every 1-2 months interval. Fruits are harvested when they ripe and turn into brown colour.
Processing NA
References NA