How Does Cultivation of Lemon Grass Boost Farm Income?

• Lemongrass can be harvested multiple times a year and requires minimal maintenance once established. Lemongrass can be cultivated several times a year under adverse circumstances.
• Farmers may generate multiple revenue streams by selling fresh grass, extracting oil, or drying leaves for tea.
• agri-input cost of lemon grass cultivation is quite low.
•  Lemongrass cultivation can enhance soil health.
• Farmers can earn more significantly if they produce value-added products by using Lemon Grass or Oil extraction
• Examples: Farmers can earn up to Rs 80,000-12,000/= per acre annually

Introduction to Lemon Grass;

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) is a tall sedge with a fragrant aroma that belongs to the Poaceae family. Lemongrass is a short-day, tall perennial sedge that grows dense fascicles of leaves from a tiny root. The culm is firm and straight, reaching up to nearly two meters in height.

It is native to India and grows throughout tropical and subtropical Southeast Asia and Africa. In India, it is grown around the Western Ghats (Maharashtra, Kerala), Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu states, as well as the foothills of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. 

Other names for lemon grass are Cochin grass, Malabar grass, and China grass.. It has numerous medicinal and antibacterial uses. Its leaves are mostly utilized to make several medications. Lemongrass-based medications are used to treat various ailments, including fever, toothaches, and headaches.

Currently, India grows this crop on approximately  4,000 hectares of land, primarily in the states of Kerala, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Assam, with yearly production ranging from 300 to 350 tons.

 Uses of Lemongrass oil:

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  An associated species known as West Indian lemongrass (C. citratus) has a low concentration of citral in its oil and has a small trade in the country.
• The oil is extracted from the leaves and flowering tips of lemongrass and has a strong lemon-like odor due to its high concentration (more than 75%) of citral.
• Its unique odor makes it suitable for scenting soaps, detergents, and insect repellent formulations.
• However, the most common use of oil is as a source of citral, which is used in perfumes, cosmetics, and drinks, as well as a starting material for the production of ionones, which produce vitamin A.

Lemongrass Leaves Uses :

• Different kinds and variations of herbal tea, including lemon tea, use dried lemongrass leaves. Lemon grass leaves are used in large quantities by enterprises that produce herbal tea.
• Lemongrass oil has a number of additional uses in addition to the ones listed above. Kadaa, or concentrated liquid, is used to help people recover from sickness.
• The cooling properties of lemongrass oil make it a great remedy for colds and other respiratory issues.
• It helps with kidney-related conditions when mixed with black pepper and made into a concentrated beverage (Kadaa).
• It is also used to relieve joint and muscle discomfort.
• Because lemongrass paste has antifungal properties, it can help treat ringworm.
• Additionally, lemongrass aids in better digestion. It also lessens stomach troubles and helps with urinary-related ailments.
• As demonstrated above, lemongrass is widely used for pharmaceutical and medical purposes in addition to the perfume industry.
• Lemongrass has a lot of potential to become a profitable cash crop in Indian agriculture because of its enormous demand on a global scale.

Market and Trade of Lemongrass Oil ; 

At a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.6%, the global lemongrass oil market is projected to reach USD 91.2 million by 2035 from USD 60.4 million in 2025. Growing consumer desire for natural and organic products across a variety of industries is driving considerable growth in the lemongrass oil market. Plant-based and essential oils are becoming increasingly popular as customers become more conscious of the possible health hazards associated with synthetic chemicals.

From 2025 to 2035, the market for lemongrass oil is anticipated to expand gradually in several important nations. With the greatest CAGR of 5.0%, India leads the world in demand due to its widespread use in cosmetics and traditional medicine. With a CAGR of 4.1%, China comes in second, helped by growing industrial applications. ( As per FMI report)

The main producers of essential oil from lemongrass, which is cultivated worldwide, are Guatemala and India., The East Indian variant from India has a higher percentage of citral than the West Indies form from Guatemala. India is the world’s largest producer of lemongrass, accounting for over 80% of the global production with a monthly market flow of 45 to 55 MT. Indian lemongrass typically yields three harvests a year, while some well-maintained plantings might yield up to five. 

Chemical Composition of Lemongrass :

• As per the GLC report, Lemongrass Oil consists of the following important components
• Citral A (46.60%), Citral B (27.7%), Flerensol (12.8%), Farnesol (3%), Borinyol (1.9%), Triphenoil Acitate (0.90%), α-terpineol (2.25%), Terpinine (0.5%), Beta Terpineol (0.40%), geranial & Nerol (1.5%). Lemon Grass grown in Central India has 75% citral in it, which is considered to be good for oil.

Climatic Requirements for Lemongrass Cultivation :

A sea level to 300 meters is the best elevation range for commercial farming. On the other hand, it thrives in Kerala at elevations between 900 and 1200 meters, usually on hillslopes and poor soils. Lemongrass needs a warm, humid climate with plenty of sunshine and rainfall (250–300 cm), spread evenly throughout the year. The plant grows lushly and is collected more regularly in Kerala’s mountainous districts that receive a lot of rainfall, but its oil and citral content are lower than those of plants growing in locations with less rainfall. Sunlight and temperatures between 10 and 33 degrees Celsius are ideal for the plant’s oil development.

Soil Requirements for Lemongrass Cultivation :

Medium-fertility soils with moderate irrigation are ideal for lemongrass growth. The plant flourishes best in well-drained sandy loams. It can be cultivated in a variety of soil types, such as weak laterite and loam. Avoiding calcareous and wet soils is advised because they are unsuitable for farming.

Varieties of Lemongrass:

• Sugandhi (OD 19);  It is adapted to a wide range of soil and climatic conditions. It is a red-stemmed variety with a plant height of 1 to 1.75 m and profuse tillering. The oil yield ranges from 80 to 100 kg per hectare, with 85-88% of total citral produced under rain-fed conditions (with supplemental irrigation). Aromatic and Medicinal Plants Research Station, Odakkali, Kerala, released this variety.
• Pragati (LS48): It is a tall-growing variety with a dark purple leaf sheath suitable for the north Indian Plains and the tarai belt of subtropical and tropical climates. The average oil content is 0.63 percent with 75-82 percent citral. This variety is a clonal selection from OD19 developed at the Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow.
• Praman (Clone 29): Evolved through clonal selection and belongs to the species C. pendulus. It is a medium-sized variety with erect leaves and profuse tillering. The oil yield is high, with 82 percent citral
• Jama Rosa:  Very hardy with vigorous growth.The variety yields about 35 tonnes of herbage per ha.  it contains 0.4 % oil(FWB).This variety  may yield up to 300kg of oil in 4-5 cuts in a 16-18-month growing period
• RRL 16: Average herbage yield of this variety is 15 to 20 tonnes/hectare/annum, giving 100 to 110  kg of oil. The oil content varies from 0.6 to 0.8 percent (fresh weight basis) with 80 percent citral. from the Regional Research Laboratory, Jammu, as Jammu Lemongrass.
• CKP 25:  A hybrid between C. khasianum and C. pendulus.The oil contains 82.85% citral.  
• Other Varieties:
• a) D-408 is a white-stemmed selection from OD-19 and represents an improvement in yield, particularly in terms of oil and citral content.
• b) Kaveri needs high soil moisture to produce luxuriant growth and is adapted for river valley tracts.)

Propagation of Lemongrass :

The crop grows best when reproduced from seed, which weighs 2.5 kg and is grown in nurseries. 2.5 kg of seed yields enough seedlings to plant one hectare of land. It is also vegetatively propagated by dividing clumps into slips. These are planted with a  60×80  centimeters spacing. A one-hectare planting requires approximately 55,000 slips.

Seed Production of Lemongrass :

• The crop flowers between November and December, while the seeds mature between February and March (the dry season in Kerala).
• Seed collecting requires plants to be in good health because the yield of seeds from plants subjected to regular harvest is poor.
• A healthy plant yields 100–200 g of seeds on average. The entire blossom is trimmed and let to sun-dry for two to three days while the seeds are being collected. After that, the seeds are threshed and sun-dried once more, leaving behind a fluffy mass that is eliminated by pounding the seed bag as it is being sown.
• These dry seed batches are kept in gunny sacks lined with polythene. Seeds lose viability if stored for more than a year.

Raising Nursery of Lemon Grass.

Transplanting nursery-raised seedlings is more effective than direct seeding. At the start of the monsoon, seeds are spread by hand on well-prepared, raised beds ranging in width from 1 to 1.5 meters and covered with a thin layer of soil. Although 2.5 kg of seed produces enough seedlings, the seed rate is 4-5 kg per hectare. Water the bed immediately after sowing, and take care to keep the soil moist. Seed germinates in 5-6 days, and seedlings are ready to transplant after 60 days.

Planting of lemongrass.

• Seedlings are planted at distances of 40×40 cm, 40×30 cm, and 40×60 cm, depending on soil fertility and inter-culture instruments utilized.
• It is preferable to plant on hills in locations with considerable rainfall.
• In the case of rooted slips, one or two slips are placed in each hole, which is approximately 15 cm deep.

Irrigation Requirement of Lemongrass :

• The newly produced lemongrass types demand water for optimal output.
• During the summer months of February to June, northern India receives 4-6 irrigations.
• If precipitation is inconsistent, the field is irrigated every three days for the first month and every seven to ten days after that.
• After plant establishment, the irrigation schedule is changed based on the soil’s water holding capacity and the weather conditions.

Fertilizer Requirement of Lemongrass.

• At planting, it is advised to apply 30 kilograms of nitrogen, 30 kg P2O5, and 30 kg K2O per hectare as a basal dose.
• During the growth season, the remaining nitrogen (60 to 90 kg) can be applied as a top-dressing in three or four split doses.
• Increase the nitrogen dose on soils with poor fertility levels.
• In Uttar Pradesh’s zinc-deficient soils, 25-60 kg of zinc sulphate is sprayed each hectare.
• Lemongrass crops are resistant to most pests and diseases; however, they may require micronutrients on marginal land.

Intercultural operation in Lemongrass; 

• The field is kept weed-free for the first three to four months after planting. Similarly, weeding and cum hoeing are done for up to a month following each harvest.
• Generally, 2-3 weddings are required per year. Inter-operations in row-planted crops can be carried out with a tractor-drawn cultivator or a hand hoe.
• This crop’s distillation waste is applied as organic mulch at a rate of 3 tons per hectare, and it is effective for weed control.
• Herbicides that effectively suppress weeds are  Diuron at 1.5 kg ai/ha and Oxyfluorfen at 0.5 kg ai/ha.
• Lemongrass on the establishment smoothes weeds.

Pest Management of Lemongrass;

Disease Management of Lemongrass.

Harvesting of Lemon Grass :

• Lemongrass flowers during the winter season.
• The first harvest is typically obtained 4 to 6 months after transplanting seedlings. Subsequent harvests are done at 60-70-day intervals, depending on soil fertility and seasonal variables.
• Under typical conditions, three harvests are possible in the first year and three to four in subsequent years, depending on the management strategies used.
• Harvesting is done with sickles; the plants are cut 10 cm above ground level and left to wilt in the field before being brought to the distillation facility.

Yield of Lemon Grass :

• Plantation typically lasts three to four years, depending on soil and climatic circumstances.
• The yield of oil is lower in the first year, but it grows in the second year and reaches its peak in the third year; thereafter, the yield drops.
• From four to six cuts, 25 to 30 tonnes of fresh herbage are typically collected per hectare per year, producing about 80 kg of oil.
• Under irrigated conditions, newly developed varieties yield an oil of 100-150 kg/ha.
• The fresh herb has an average of 0.3% oil, and thick stems are removed before distillation because they are oil-free.

Income & expenditure on Lemongrass Production/ Farming :