| Family |
Euphorbiaceae |
| English Name |
Phyllanthus |
| Malayalam Name |
Keezhanelli, Kizhakkainelli |
| Tamil Name |
Keezhanelli |
| Kannada Name |
Kiru nelli, Nela nelli |
| Telugu Name |
Kiru nelli, Nela nelli |
| Hindi Name |
Jangli amli, Jaramla |
| Sanskrit Name |
Bahupatra, Bhumi amalaki |
| Trade Name |
Bhumi amla, Phyllanthus |
| Part Used |
Whole plant |
| 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 |
Approximately 2-3 tonnes of bio mass/hectare on drying. |
| Economic of cultivation |
Cost of cultivation: ₹ 10,000 per hectare.
Market price: Whole plant - ₹ 50/kg. (as on June 2019)
|
| Quantitative quality standards |
1. Foreign matter: Not more than 2.0 per cent
2. Ash: Not more than 12.5 per cent
3. Acid-insoluble ash: Not more than 6.0 per
cent
4. Ethanol-soluble extractive: Not less than
6.0 per cent
5. Water-soluble extractive: Not less than 9.0
per cent |
| Description |
Erect herbs to 30 cm tall. Leaves simple, 6-8 x 3-4 mm, oblong, apex obtuse to acute, base unequal sided, lower surface glaucous; stipules lanceolate, scarious. Male flowers towards tip of branchlets, solitary, axillary; tepals 5, ovate; stamens 3, exserted. Female flowers c. 1.5 mm across; tepals 5, oblong; ovary globose. Capsule c. 2 mm across, globose; seeds 6, trigonous, vertically muriculate. |
| Agro technology/Cultivation practices |
It grows well as a rain-fed crop under semi temperate to tropical conditions at up to 800 m altitude and tolerates water logging. Plant growth is restricted under shade. The plant is well adapted to calcareous, well drained sandy loamy/black soil with pH of 6.5 to 7.5.
Cultivation
1. Planting stock production: P. amarus is propagated through seeds. Direct
seeding results in poor stands and therefore, seeds are sown in April-
May in nursery beds mixed with farmyard manure. Germination of freshly
collected seeds is slower than older seeds. Soaking the seeds in fresh
water for 20-30 minutes before sowing or treatment with Giberllic Acid
200 ppm for 6 hours would help in increased germination. Adequate
moisture is maintained until seedlings are ready for planting. For a
hectare, 1 kg seeds are sufficient. The seeds germinate in about a week
and are maintained up to 20 days.
2. Field planting: Plough the land twice or thrice and level the top soil,
Seedlings that are 3-4 week old and 10-15 cm tall are transplanted at
15-25 x 10-20 cm spacing during the rainy season. A proper irrigation
just after transplanting ensures establishment of seedlings.
3. Manuring: For good vegetative growth farmyard manure is applied based on
soil analysis during land preparation.
4. Weeding: The crop needs hand weeding at 30 and 60 days interval after
planting.
5. Irrigation: Irrigation is required during dry season if monsoon rains is
scanty. Sprinkler irrigation required once in every 10-15 days.
6. Pests and Diseases: Powdery mildew disease occurs during rainy season.
This is controlled by spraying biopesticides like Azadirachtin,
Trichoderma viride, Pseudomonas chlororaphis etc |
| Harversting |
The crop matures in 80-90 days and can be harvested. The plant has maximum active chemical ingredients during fruiting. However, seeds collection is done after 110-120 days old crop. Plants in September will contain highest amount of leaves and is the suitable time for harvesting. Whole plant is pulled manually and shade dried. |
| Processing |
The shade dried herb is stored in polythene lined gunny bags at cool, well ventilated godowns. |
| References |
NA |
