Alpinia calcarata Rosc.

Family Zingiberaceae
English Name Lesser Galangal, Snap Ginger
Malayalam Name Chittaratta, Aratha
Tamil Name Perarathai
Kannada Name Chikkadumparaasme
Telugu Name Pedda-dumparashtram
Hindi Name Kulanjan
Sanskrit Name Rasna, Sugandhamoola, Kulanjana
Trade Name Chittaratha, Aratha
Part Used Rhizome
In Wild No
Under Cultivation Yes
Temperature 13 - 36 °C
Rainfall Average annual rainfall of 1645mm
Farmers NA
Traders NA
Institution NA
Individually NA
State/Region Kerala,
District NA
Nursery Information NA
Yield Fresh rhizomes: 8-10 tons/acre, Dry rhizomes : 2-2.5 tons /acre Price/Kg: ₹ 80 - 100 ( as on August 2018)
Economic of cultivation Total cultivation cost/acre: ₹ 33146.74 (as on 2017)
Quantitative quality standards Foreign material: Not more than 2 per cent, Total ash: Not more than 5 per cent, Acid insoluble ash: Not more than 2 per cent Alcohol soluble extractive: Not less than 8 per cent, Water soluble extractive: Not less than 12 per cent, Loss on drying: 5.5 - 6.8 per cent.
Description NA
Agro technology/Cultivation practices Alpinia calcarata grows well in tropical climate.Fertile red loam soil is ideal. Well drained hilly areas and places upto 1400 m altitude are good for its cultivation. It can be cultivated in areas where average maximum and minimum temperatures ranges between 13 - 36 °C and average annual rainfall of 1645mm. It is a shade tolerant crop; grows well as a intercrop in mature rubber plantations and coconut gardens. Planting-stock production Vegetatively propagated through freshly collected rhizomes. Freshly harvested rhizomes are made into bits of 5 cm length with at least one sprouting bud are used as the planting material. Almost 500 Kg of fresh rhizome bits are required for planting in an acre of land . Tissue culture methods are also used for its propagation. New shoots along with a portion of rhizome can also be used as propagule. Field planting Optimum spacing is 30 cm x 20 cm under poor fertility and 40 cm x 30 cm under good fertility conditions. Planted in pits formed on raised beds and mulched with leaves. Manuring/Fertilization: Apply 4 tons FYM and 500 kg bone meal per acre at the time of last ploughing. Application of biofertilizers azospirillum @10 kg/ha and in situ green manuring with cowpea are beneficial for the crop. Carryout gap filling, within one month, if required; remove weeds two months after planting followed by topdressing, earthing up and mulching. Thereafter no weeding is required as the crop smothers the weeds. Pest: Usual pests includes stem borer and leaf eating caterpillars. If the problem persists specialists may be consulted. Spraying 2.5% neem kernel suspension is beneficial to control the pests.
Harversting Though rhizome can be harvested 18 months after planting, ideal time for high yield and quality is 36 - 42 months after planting. Since the roots are well ramified in the soil, harvesting is difficult. Cut and remove the shoot portion and carefully dig out the rhizomes and roots.
Processing Harvested rhizomes are cleaned, cut into pieces of 5cm long and dried in sun for 3-5 days to 10 % moisture for marketing. Rhizomes and roots are steam distilled for extracting the essential oil. Fresh rhizomes on steam distillation for 3-5 hours give 0.22% essential oil. The oil recovery on dry weight basis is 0.93%.
References NA