Indigofera tinctoria L.

Family Leguminosae
English Name Black henna, Indian indigo, Common indigo
Malayalam Name Neelayamari, Amari
Tamil Name Acotam, Ancanam
Kannada Name Neeli gida
Telugu Name Aviri, Konda nili
Hindi Name Gouli, Neel
Sanskrit Name Gandhapushpi, Gramina
Trade Name Black henna, Indian indigo, Common indigo
Part Used Root, Stem, Leaves
In Wild NA
Under Cultivation NA
Temperature 23°C
Rainfall 500–1500 mm
Farmers NA
Traders NA
Institution NA
Individually NA
State/Region NA
District NA
Nursery Information NA
Yield Yield is around 10–13 t/ha (fresh weight basis)
Economic of cultivation Estimated cost of cultivation is ₹ 10,000 per acre. Market price: ₹ 136/kg for fresh/dry plant materials; ₹ 300/kg for seeds, as on May 2018.
Quantitative quality standards 1. Foreign matter: Nil 2. Ash: Not more than 6.60% 3. Acid insoluble ash: Not more than 1.12% 4. Ethanol soluble extractive: Not less than 11.30% 5. Water soluble extractive: Not less than 14.50%
Description Herbs with woody base, to 1.5 m tall. Leaves pinnately 5-13-foliolate; leaflets opposite, 5-22 x 5-12 mm, elliptic to obovate, base and apex rounded, darkening on drying. Inflorescence axillary, spicate-racemose, many-flowered. Flowers small, red, lobes narrow lanceolate, acuminate. Pods 2-3 cm long, c. 2 mm wide, linear, straight or slightly curved, seeds 8-12, obscurely angular.
Agro technology/Cultivation practices Indigofera tinctoria occurs in seasonal wet fields and also along roadsides, bush margins, brushwood, secondary forest and on riverbanks. It is also cultivated. It occurs from sea level to 1250 m altitude, in regions with annual rainfall of 500–1500 mm and average annual temperature of 23°C. Continuous rain, water-logging and flooding kill plants, excessive heat and hot winds causes withering. Cultivation 1. Planting-stock production: Seeds are best suited for propagation. Seedlings are raised in nursery mother beds or polybags of 25 cm × 20 cm size filled with potting mixture of soil, sand and farmyard manure. Seeds germinate in about 4–5 days. Approximately, 20–30 kg seeds are required for raising seedlings sufficient for one hectare of land. Seeds have a hard seed coat and therefore soaking overnight in water or scarification with sulphuric acid can improve germination to over 90%. Indigofera can also cultivated by seed broadcasting. 2. Field planting: Transplanting time is August - September. Optimum spacing is 30 cm × 30 cm. 3. Manuring/Fertilization: Indigofera tinctoria is fixing nitrogen through its root nodules and therefore additional fertilization not required. 4. Irrigation: Need-based irrigation could be done. 5. Pest and diseases: Psyllids (Arytania puctipennis) suck the sap from tender leaves and young shoots causing yellowing of leaves and gradually dries up. Spraying 3% neem seed extract or 2% garlic neem oil emulsion is recommended.
Harversting Branches are harvested by cutting at 10–20 cm above ground level when the plants are 4–5 months old, usually at the flowering stage. The crop should be harvested before heavy rains or flooding as the entire crop could be destroy within a few hours of heavy rain. Up to 3 harvests are possible in a year when it is grown as a ratoon crop.
Processing Harvested branches are often pounded to a soft pulp and made into balls, which are sold in the market after drying.
References NA