Volume: 46 Issue: 1
Cultivation of rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium graveolens L.) as a multi-harvest perennial crop under the sub-tropical condition of northern Indian plains
Year: 2024, Page: 23-32, Doi: https://doi.org/10.62029/jmaps.v46i1.chaudhary
Received: Dec. 1, 2023 Accepted: April 1, 2024 Published: April 1, 2024
Pelargonium graveolens L., frequently known as rose-scented geranium (family: Geraniaceae; 2n = 88), is an herbaceous medicinal and aromatic plant cultivated for its highly valued and significant volatile essential oil. It widely excels in the food, cosmetics, aromatherapy, and medicinal industries. The present study focuses on the perennial cultivation of geranium for taking multi-harvest in a year by the novel shed-saving agro technology (SSAT) technology for generating a higher yield of essential oils. A 5 year field experiment was carried out at the research farm of CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, India. During experimentation, two geranium varieties, V1 ( CIM-Pawan ) and V2 (Bourbon ), were grown under a semi-protected polythene shed and harvested 14 times at various intervals. The study found that the maximum fresh herbage yield (14.04 t ha-1) was recorded in variety V1 at IIIrd harvest. The highest essential oil yield (23.76 kg ha-1) was recorded in variety V1 at the Ist harvest. After carefuly examining the trial results, it is suggested that geranium cultivation can be continued as a perennial crop for multiple harvests under a semi-protective shed to obtain higher yields with better financial returns. In contrast, only 1 or 2 harvests are possible under open (natural) conditions of northern Indian plains.
Keywords: Pelargonium graveolens, Production technology, Perennial crop, North Indian plains, Low-cost novel technology, Shed-saving agro-technology.
Badi, H. N., Yazdani, D., Ali, S. M., and Nazari, F. (2004). Effects of spacing and harvesting time on herbage yield and quality/quantity of oil in thyme, Thymus vulgaris L. Industrial Crops and Products, 19(3), 231-236.
Blank, A. F., Silva, A. D. C., Arrigoni-Blank, M. D. F., dos Santos, W. M., and de Santana, A. D. D. (2012). Plant spacing and harvest intervals on biomass and essential oil of geranium. Horticultura Brasileira, 30, 740-746.
Chauhan, A., and Verma, R. S. (2010). Cultivation potential of three rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) cultivars in the Kumaon region of western Himalayas. Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Science and Biotechnology, 4, 77-79.
CK, V. (2006). Performance of patchouli (Pogostemon patchouli Pellet.) as influenced by nitrogen, spacing, shade, growth regulators and harvest techniques (Doctoral dissertation, UAS Dharwad).
Gebremeskel, H., and Woldetsadik, K. (2015). Effect of plant spacing and harvesting age on growth, biomass and oil yield of rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium graveolens L. Herit). Basic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Review, 4(3), 39.
Jain, N., Aggarwal, K. K., Syamasundar, K. V., Srivastava, S. K., and Kumar, S. (2001). Essential oil composition of geranium (Pelargonium sp.) from the plains of Northern India. Flavour and Fragrance Journal, 16(1), 44-46.
Kakaraparthi, P. S., Srinivas, K. V. N. S., Kumar, J. K., Kumar, A. N., Rajput, D. K., and Sarma, V. U. M. (2014). Variation in the essential oil content and composition of Citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt.) in relation to time of harvest and weather conditions. Industrial Crops and Products, 61, 240-248.
Kumar, A., Verma, N., Kaur, P., Kumar, D., Ghosh, D., Singh, A., Siddiqui, A., Kumar, N., Singh, A. K., Khare, P., and Singh, S. (2022). Physiological and chemical changes induced by transparent polythene+ green net shed on Pelargonium graveolens L. mother plants during monsoon season. Industrial Crops and Products, 188, 115686.
Motsa, N. M. (2006). Essential oil yield and composition of rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium sp.) as influenced by harvesting frequency and plant shoot age. University of Pretoria (South Africa).
Mastiholi, A. B. (2008). Effect of spacing, time of harvest and NPK levels on growth, yield and quality of medicinal coleus (Coleus forskohlii Briq.) under irrigated condition (Doctoral dissertation, PhD thesis, Department of Agronomy, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad), India.
Nilofer, A., Singh, A. K., Kumar, D., Kaur, P., Kumar, A., Singh, A., Khare, P., Sangwan, N. S., Kalra, A., and Singh, S. (2018). A novel method for survival of rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium graveolens L.) mother plants under extreme climatic conditions. Industrial Crops and Products, 126, 227-237.
Pandey, P., Upadhyay, R. K., Singh, V. R., Padalia, R. C., Kumar, R., Venkatesha, K. T., Tiwari, A. K., Singh, S., and Tewari, S. K. (2020). Pelargonium graveolens L. (Rose-scented geranium): New hope for doubling Indian farmers’ income. Environment Conservation Journal, 21(1&2), 141-146.
Rao, B. R. (2009). Chemical composition and uses of Indian rose-scented Geranium (Pelargonium species) essential oil-A review. Journal of Essential Oil Bearing Plants, 12(4), 381-394.
Singh, A. K., Kaur, P., Kumar, D., Verma, K., Kumar, R., Anandakumar, T. M., Chanotiya, C. S., and Singh, S. (2021). Productivity and quality of Cymbopogon martinii (Roxb.) Wats. as influenced by harvesting at different phenological stages. Industrial Crops and Products, 174, 114215.
Upadhyay, R. K., Verma, R. S., Singh, V. R., Bahl, J. R., Sharma, S. K., and Tewari, S. K. (2016). New agrotechnology for quality planting material production of rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium graveolens L. Herit.). Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, 3(3), 128-130.
Verma, R. S., Rahman, L. U., Verma, R. K., Chauhan, A., and Singh, A. (2013). Essential oil composition of Pelargonium graveolens L’Her ex Ait. cultivars harvested in different seasons. Journal of Essential Oil Research, 25(5), 372-379.
© CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants
Chaudhary, A., Verma, K., Singh, A., Kumar, D., Singh, K. P., Kaur, P., Singh, A. K., & Singh, S. (2024). Cultivation of rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium graveolens L.) as a multi-harvest perennial crop under the sub-tropical condition of northern Indian plains. Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, 46(1), 23-32. https://doi.org/10.62029/jmaps.v46i1.chaudhary