Cul t i vat i onOf Lavender
Lavender Area Under Cultivation The crop grows in low rainfall areas and on the slops of hills in Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. It is also successfully cultivated on an experimental scale in Kashmir valley.
Botanical Name : Lavendula sp. Family : Labiaceae Plant Discription : It is a perennial aromatic herb or sub shrub 50 to 80 cm in height. The leaves are opposite , oblong linear or lanceolate with small flowers borne in terminal spikes.
Centre of Origin : Mediterranean region Pollination System : Cross pollinated Chromosome No. : --
Lavender Harvesting Plants start flowering earlier in warmer and low altitude areas and later at higher slopes. Flowers are cut off with stem lengths not greater than 12 cm because of absence of oil in the stems and leaves. In the Kashmir Valley, the crop is ready for harvesting in August and September. Production of high quality lavender oil depends on a number of factors such as the degree of blossoming, picking during suitable hours of the day, atmospheric conditions, method of harvesting, storage, flower transportation, etc. Harvesting should begin at 50 % blossoming and continued till the blooming is finished. Harvesting should be done on dry, warm and sunny days. Very cold weather prevents development of the esters and rain is fatal for harvesting. It is important to cut the flower axis completely at a uniform height because the flowers remaining on the shrub would affect flowering in the next year. The flower is cut with well-sharpened sickles.
Yield The oil quality and yield depends upon several factors, particularly soil and climatic conditions under which the plant is cultivated, the plant material used and the process of distillation. Studies carried out by CIMAP indicated that oil content range was from 1.2% to 1.5% while the yield was 15 kg per ha is obtained.
Uses The lavender species can be exploited in a number of ways. As a medicinal plant, its dried inflorescence (Lavandulae flos) has traditionally been considered to be an antispasmodic, a carminative, a diuretic, a stimulant, and a tonic. It has been used as a folk remedy against colic and headaches. Lavender has also been an important ingredient in herb baths for a long time. The essential oil of lavender (Aetheroleum lavandulae) has antiseptic, carminative, and spasmolytic activity. The flowers are considered to be an insect repellant. Lavender oil is frequently used in cologne toilet waters, lotions and a wide range of high-quality perfumes, often after extensive bending or 'stretching'. Spike lavender oil scents cheap soaps, polishes, detergents and liquid cleaners, although the more delicate. French oil is also used in rooms sprays, deodorants, disinfectants and insecticides. The major consumer of lavandin oil is the soap industry but the oil also has much application in men's colognes and numerous inexpensive perfumes, detergents, cleaning and washing-up liquids, polishes, talcum powders and hair preparations.
Oil Contents Terpeinen-4-ol
2.3%
Alpha-pinene
0.2%
Cumene
1.02%
Camphene
0.42%
Beta-pinene
1.29%
myrcene
0.47%
Limonene
11.0%
1,8-cineole
1.82%
p-cymene
0.27%
Limonene oxide
0.57%
Citronellol acetate
0.45%
Lavendulyl acetate
0.13%
Farnesene
0.07%
Lavender Intercultural Operations The field of lavender is kept weed-free by regular weeding and hoeing. Regular hoeing keeps the soil loose which is responsible for proper plant development. During the first and the second year 5-6 cultivations at 8-10 cm depth are required. Subsequently every year lavender plantations should be machine cultivated 3-4 times. Similarly one digging before blossoming in the spring is recommended.
Lavender Manuring & Fertilization Generally 100kg N, 40kg each of P2O5 and K2O per hectare is recommended of which 20 kg N and the entire P2O5 and K2O are applied as basal dose. The balance 80 kg of N is applied in four split doses during each year. CIMAP centre at Srinagar has obtained highest spike yield by application of 150kg N/ha.
Lavender Planting Transplantation can be done either in autumn or in spring. Lavender is planted at a distance of 1.20 or 1.40 m in between rows and 30-40 cm inside the rows. About 20,000 plants per ha give the highest yield. Earthing up of soil around the seedlings is considered good for the rooting.
Lavender Propagation Lavender is propagated through seeds as well as through rooted cuttings. Although propagation through seeds is cheaper and quicker but due to cross-pollination there is genetic variability and quality of oil cannot be maintained. Vegetative propagation maintains the quality of initial strain resulting in even and standardized population. However, this method is slower and expensive with a lower propagation coefficient.
By Seeds Seeds are sown in beds, 1m wide, in autumn (November-December) either through broadcasting or in rows 10-12 cm apart for raising nursery. Seeds, being small, are mixed with fine sand or wood ash before sowing. For 1 sq. m area, 2.0-2.5 g seeds are required. The sowing depth is 1-2 cm. The seeds are covered with FYM or fine sand and are left in this stage during winter. The seeds germinate in spring (April) at 14-15째 C. The nursery bed should be regularly sprinkled and kept moist. The seedlings should be prunned periodically to avoid follicle formation.
By Cuttings Lavender is mainly propagated by cuttings. The cuttings are obtained from young wood or small branches and are inserted into raised beds with sandy soil. Protection to the bed is being given in cold weather. A certain amount of water is required in dry weather till the cuttings are established. In Kashmir for providing protection from cold weather, black polythene covers are used to cover the beds, which are kept moist by regular sprinkling. Holes are made on the polythene at a distance of 7.5 x 7.5 cm. Cuttings of 10 cm length are taken from one-year old plants and firmly planted in the holes. This method has been successful in Kashmir, as very low mortality of cuttings is observed. Furthermore, covering the beds with black polythene sheets before planting, cuttings give a better rooting and prevent growth of weeds.
Lavender Soil & Climate Soil Light well-aerated dry and calcareous soils rich in nutrients are the best for cultivation of lavender. Poor carbonate and sandy soils are also suitable but such soils need mineral fertilizers annually. Waterlogged soils are not suitable for its cultivation. It grows very well on slopy lands, thus checking soil erosion to a great extent. The best crop and oil yields are obtained in neutral and alkaline soils (pH 7.0 to 8.4).
Climate It is a temperate plant and does well only in those areas, which have cold winter and cool summer. It is resistant to frost and drought. . High altitude areas are favorable for the crop. Lavender needs a great deal of sunshine. If the duration of the sunshine is not sufficient, then the formation of flowers, the essential oil content of the flowers, and the ester content of the essential oil, are significantly reduced It has been established that high-grade lavender oil can be produced in Kashmir valley where the plants require minimum irrigation and could be grown even on poor soils/eroded soils. Even gentle and steep slopes in dry areas, which are not generally used for cultivation can be used for lavender plantation providing cash income to poor farmers.
Lavender Varieties True Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia Aub Sp. Angustifolia) It is the longest cultivated lavender species and is native to the Mediterranean region. It can be found as high as 1700 m above the sea level. The flowering shoots of true lavender as 0.20-0.40 cm long and are single stalked. The greyish green felty pubescent leaves are 30-50 mm long. The essential oil contents is 0.5-0.1%.
Spike Lavender (L. latifolia) It is native to the Mediterranean region and grows at 200-700m above the sea level.
Lavandin (L. Intermedia (Syn. L. Hybrida) It is a spontaneous hybrid of true lavender and spike lavender. It can be found frequently at heights of 700-1000m above the sea level. It is a shrub, which reaches a height of 0.8-0.1m and in natural condition it has a hemi-spherical shape. The spikes of lavendin may grow to 0.6-0.9m and generally it is branched. The leaves are linear or thin, lanceolate, opposite and bright green in colour without pubescent. The essential oil contents is 0.9-3.0%.
Sher-e-kashmir (Lavandula Officinalis) A superior clone with about 100% higher oil yields than the Karlovo strain, which was released by CIMAP, Lucknow.