Pueraria tuberosa (Roxb. ex Willd.) DC.

Family Leguminosae
English Name Vidari, Kudzu
Malayalam Name Mutukku
Tamil Name Darigummadi, Niala-gumodi
Kannada Name Bhoochakra gedde, Bhoosakkare gedde
Telugu Name Vidhaarikanda, Dhaarigummadi
Hindi Name Vidarikand, Bilaikand
Sanskrit Name Bhumikushmand, Kandapalash, Vrikshavalli
Trade Name Vidari, Kudzu
Part Used Tubers
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 of dry tubers is 5-7.5 tonnes per hectare
Economic of cultivation 1. Cost of cultivation: ₹ 35,000 per hectare. 2. Market price: Dried tubers - ₹ 40 per kg(as on June 2019). 3. Total income: ₹ 2,00,000-3,00,000 per hectare. 4. Net income: ₹ 1,65,000-2,65,000 per hectare.
Quantitative quality standards 1. Foreign material: Not more than 2 per cent 2. Total ash: Not more than 11 per cent 3. Acid insoluble ash: Not more than 1 per cent 4. Water insoluble ash: 4.38 per cent 5. Alcohol soluble extractive: Not less than 13 per cent 6. Water soluble extractive: Not less than 22 per cent 7. Moisture content: 14.9 per cent 8. Loss on drying: Not more than 10 per cent
Description Globally the species is distributed in India, Pakistan and Nepal. Within India it is distributed widely in the outer Himalayan region of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Sikkim. It is also present in the hills of Southern and Eastern India. It is common in Central India and ascending up to 1300 m msl.
Agro technology/Cultivation practices The plant prefers sub-tropical climate, shade and warm humid conditions. It grows well in loam to sandy loam soil, rich in organic matter. Cultivation 1. Planting-stock production: Generally propagated by seeds, but seed germination is low. The seeds are soaked in water overnight and sown in nursery in the month of May. Seedlings are planted in field at the end of July. The plants can be raised vegetatively during June-July and shifted to main field in August-September. Tubers and layering is also used for raising plants. Ground layering of stem is very successful for propagation. Ground layering may be done with the help of rooting hormones. Stem cuttings also require treatment of rooting hormone. 2. Field planting: The seedlings or cuttings are planted at spacing of 75cm x 75cm in 30cm deep pits filled with 1:1:1 mixture of soil, sand and manure. About 18,000 plants are required for planting in one hectare land. This is widely spaced crop and allows inter-cropping of narrow spaced, erect plants like Desmodium (Shalparni) and Plumbago (Chitrak) during the first season. It can also be grown as inter-crop under large tree plantation or orchards. In fact, up to 50% shade is ideal conditions for its growth and development. Pueraria is perennial crop and requires three hand weeding in the first year at 30, 60 and 180 days after transplanting, corresponding with end of August, September and early February months. 3. Manuring/Fertilization: Farmyard manure/compost mixed in soil at the time of field preparation based on the plant/soil analysis. The field should be levelled well after one cross ploughing and harrowing. 4. Irrigation: One irrigation is required at the time of transplanting and two during establishment stage at 15 and 45 days after transplanting. The plant becomes dormant during winter. Generally, 3 to 4 irrigations are required during April-June in the following year. 5. Diseases: The leaves are damaged by sucking and chewing type of insects during and after rainy season. This can be controlled by applying neem cake in the soil and repeated spray of its solution in July-August to control this menace.
Harversting The large tuberous roots take 4-5 years to develop. Occasionally the tubers may develop up to 20 kg in weight. Medium sized tubers are considered better. Season of tuber collection is April-May.
Processing The tubers are cut into thin slices, dried in shade and stored.
References NA