| Family |
Asteraceae |
| English Name |
Stevia, Sweet Honey Leaf |
| Malayalam Name |
Madhura thulasi, Stevia |
| Tamil Name |
Seenitulasi |
| Kannada Name |
Stevia |
| Telugu Name |
Stevia |
| Hindi Name |
Meethi patti |
| Sanskrit Name |
Madhukari |
| Trade Name |
Stevia, Sweet Honey Leaf, Madhukari |
| Part Used |
Leaves |
| In Wild |
NA |
| Under Cultivation |
NA |
| Temperature |
10°C - 30 °C |
| Rainfall |
140 cm |
| Farmers |
NA |
| Traders |
NA |
| Institution |
NA |
| Individually |
NA |
| State/Region |
NA |
| District |
NA |
| Nursery Information |
NA |
| Yield |
About 3-6 tonnes of dry leaves can be obtained per hectare per year. |
| Economic of cultivation |
1. Cost of cultivation: First year- ₹ 5,77,000/ha
Second year onwards- 80,000/ha
2. Total output : ₹ 6,00,000/ha @ ₹ 120 for
5,000 kg of dry leaves |
| Quantitative quality standards |
1. Foreign matter: Not more than 1.0 per cent
2. Ash: Not more than 3.54 per cent
3. Acid-insoluble ash: Not more than 1.5 per
cent
4. Alcohol-soluble extractive: Not less than
12.0 per cent
5. Water-soluble extractive: Not less than
18.2 per cent |
| Description |
Perennial herbs. Laves simple, opposite, 3-7 × 0.5-1.5 cm, lanceolate to oblanceolate, oblong, serrate above the middle; sessile or shortly petiolate. The inflorescence is loosely paniculate. Head homogamous, flowers bisxeual. Involucral bracts 5. Flowers usually 5, ca, 1.2 cm long; corolla tubular, white with light purple shade at throat, lobes 5, spreading. Achenes ca,
3 mm long; pappus of 20 bristles. |
| Agro technology/Cultivation practices |
Stevia is a perennial herb which requires tropical climate with temperature ranging between 10°C - 30 °C and annual rainfall of 140 cm. It prefers moist, well-drained, clayey soil having pH 6.5 to 7.5. Tolerates infertile sandy soils. Good sunshine, humid and little foggy climate are good for high yielding of leaves.
Cultivation
1. Planting stock production: Stem cuttings and seeds can be used as
propagating material, but freshly cut 15 cm long stem cuttings are the
best planting material. It should be grown in nursery for rooting.
Around 1,10,000 cuttings/seedlings are required for planting in one
hectare. It can be propagated from seed in plug trays placed in
greenhouse for period of 7- 8 weeks.
2. Field planting: Depending on different climatic conditions Stevia is
cultivable throughout the year except for times when it is extremely hot
or cold. Land is ploughed twice to prepare a fairly smooth surface.
Rooted seedlings are transplanted at spacing 45 x 20 cm preferably in
the June- July months. The land should be irrigated immediately after
planting.
3. Manure/ Fertilization: Apply farmyard manure at the time of land
preparation based on plant/soil analysis. Avoid excessive use of
nitrogen-rich fertilizer which tends to produce large leaves with little
flavour.
4. Irrigation: Since it requires high moisture content, regular irrigations
are required especially during summer. During summer, water should be
given once in every 3 days. Sprinkler irrigation is recommended. Weeding
should be done once in every 15 days to get maximum yield. Removal of
Flowers: To increase the yield of leaves, flowers should be removed
regularly. Flowers can be removed at 60th, 75th, 85th days after
planting and also during harvesting time. In case of raton cultivation,
flowering starts after 40 days, so on 40th, 55th and during harvesting,
removal of flowers can be done.
5. Pests and Diseases: There are no serious pests/ diseases. But there
might be chances of leaf spots due to deficiency of Boron. In that case
spraying of 0.1% Borax is recommended. |
| Harversting |
The crop can be harvested 3 months after planting. The part of the plant that is above the ground is harvested, 4 times a year, up to 6 years of age for commercial use. The roots remain in place and the plant regenerates again. For raton cultivation, cutting of plants 5-8 cm height from the ground is recommended. |
| Processing |
Drying of the woody stems plus the soft green leaf material is completed immediately after harvesting, utilizing a drying wagon or a kiln. It takes 24 to 48 hours to dry at 40°C to 50°C. Immediately following drying, dry leaves are separated from the stem through a thresher/separator. |
| References |
NA |
