Lemon Grass
Cymbopogon citatus/flexosus
Family: Graminae
Family: Graminae
History
The oldest known text about lemon grass
oil had been found from the Philippines in 17th century. It had been
introduced to Jamaica in 1799 and to Haiti and USA in 1917. First
commercial cultivation of lemon grass was reported in Florida, USA and
Haiti in 1947. It is not known when or by whom introduced lemon grass
to Sri Lanka. According to the reports available at the national
herbarium in 1905 a Sri Lankan researcher called Mr. J.F Jovit had
acquired several plants of “Kochin Sera” (Cymbopogon citrates) From the
South India and had planted them at Bandarawela Farm for research
purposes. Several large scale cultivations of lemon grass had been
existed in Sri Lanka in several decades ago but currently only a few
small cultivations exists.
Products and Uses
Lemon grass is used for oil extraction.
It is ranked among the top ten oil bearing crops in the world and
India leads in the world export market Lemon grass oil is mainly used
in perfumery industry and in pharmaceutical industry. It is also used
in production of detergents, disinfections and deodorizing compounds.
In some countries lemongrass oil is reported to have been used as a
flavoring agent in ice creams, cakes, beverages, confectionaries,
puddings and chewing gums. In India dried lemon grass, mixed with other
ingredients, is used in making writing and printing papers.
Major Growing Areas
In Sri Lanka lemon grass is reported to
have been grown in Badulla and Hambanthota area but no exact figure on
the extent could be found. Based on the available information it is
estimated that the total extent of lemon grass in Sri Lanka is less
than 25ha.
Varieties
West Indian Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon
citrates) and East Indian Lemon Grass or Cochin Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon
flexuosus) are commonly grown varieties.
Cymbopogon citrates
Cymbopogon citrates
Commonly called as “Sera” and largely
used as a curry leaf in meat preparations. Plant exists as a small bush
with long narrow leaves. “Sera” is also used in the oil distillation
but the yield as well as the quality of the oil is comparatively lower
than the lemon grass. The pseudo stem is white in color and base of the
plant has been formed to a bulb like structure.
Cymbopogon flexuosus
Cymbopogon flexuosus
It is the commercial lemon grass used
in oil distillation. Plant is indigenous to India. Two species of C.
flexuosus are reported based on the color of the plant. The pseudo stem
of C. flexuosus Choomana pullu is red in colour. Bulk of the lemon
grass oil is obtained from the red color type of Indian lemon grass.
The other type is C. flexuosus forma albescens which has a greenish
white or light red pseudo stem. The quality of the white lemon grass
oil is inferior to the red type variety.
Soils and Climatic needs
Soil:
Well drained sandy soil is most suitable and hard clay soils are not good for the growth. Most of the poor soil types in Sri Lanka are suitable for lemon grass but higher yield can be obtained from soils with high humus. However lemon grass can be grown even in the pathana lands, marginal tea lands, severely eroded lands and lands which are not suitable to grow any other crop.
Climate:
It can be successfully grown in almost all climatic zones in Sri Lanka but tropical hot areas with high sun shine are most suitable
Altitude – up to 100-1200 MSL
Temperature – 25ºC – 30ºC
Rainfall – Resistant to severe droughts and severe winds and wild fires. Well spread rain fall with a few inches is adequate. High rainfall reduces the oil yield.
Quantity and quality of oil is low when the lemon grass is grown under high shade, in cooler climates and in high fertile soils.
Crop establishment
Planting material: Both seeds and suckers are used as planting material.
Flower of the Lemon grass is a panicle which produces large number of seeds. After maturity flowers can be harvested and seeds can be separated after 2-3 days of drying. Seeds can be sown directly to the field and about 25kg/ha of seeds are required for direct seeding. Or else seeds can be sown in nursery beds to obtain plantlets, which can be transplanted in the field. Only 3-4kg/ha of seeds are adequate for sowing in nurseries.
Seeds have to be used as soon as possible since the viability of seeds decline drastically after the harvesting
The common practice of propagation is using suckers. Suckers are separated from mother bushes and planted in the field. About 24000-30000 suckers are required to plant one hectare at the spacing of 60cmx60cm or 60cmx45cm.
Well drained sandy soil is most suitable and hard clay soils are not good for the growth. Most of the poor soil types in Sri Lanka are suitable for lemon grass but higher yield can be obtained from soils with high humus. However lemon grass can be grown even in the pathana lands, marginal tea lands, severely eroded lands and lands which are not suitable to grow any other crop.
Climate:
It can be successfully grown in almost all climatic zones in Sri Lanka but tropical hot areas with high sun shine are most suitable
Altitude – up to 100-1200 MSL
Temperature – 25ºC – 30ºC
Rainfall – Resistant to severe droughts and severe winds and wild fires. Well spread rain fall with a few inches is adequate. High rainfall reduces the oil yield.
Quantity and quality of oil is low when the lemon grass is grown under high shade, in cooler climates and in high fertile soils.
Crop establishment
Planting material: Both seeds and suckers are used as planting material.
Flower of the Lemon grass is a panicle which produces large number of seeds. After maturity flowers can be harvested and seeds can be separated after 2-3 days of drying. Seeds can be sown directly to the field and about 25kg/ha of seeds are required for direct seeding. Or else seeds can be sown in nursery beds to obtain plantlets, which can be transplanted in the field. Only 3-4kg/ha of seeds are adequate for sowing in nurseries.
Seeds have to be used as soon as possible since the viability of seeds decline drastically after the harvesting
The common practice of propagation is using suckers. Suckers are separated from mother bushes and planted in the field. About 24000-30000 suckers are required to plant one hectare at the spacing of 60cmx60cm or 60cmx45cm.
Crop management
Fertilizer applicationUsually farmers do not apply artificial fertilizer. If applied, higher yield can be obtained.
Fertilizer recommendation
Recommended mixture - 750 kg / ha.
| Components of the mixture |
Parts by weight |
Nutrient in the mixture |
| Urea (46%N) | 1.5 | 17%N |
| Rock phosphate ( 28 % P2O5) | 1.5 | 11% P2O5 |
| Muriate of potash (60% K2O) | 1 | 14% K2O |
| Age of plantation |
Maha Season (mixture Kg/ha.) | Yala Season (mixture Kg./Ha.) |
| 1st Year (kg) | 190 | 190 |
| 2nd Year (kg) | 375 | 375 |
Weed control
2-3 times weeding is necessary in the first year. But in the subsequent years weeding frequency is depending on the condition of the field.
Soil Conservation
Lemon grass is highly suitable for sloppy lands with high erosion. However suitable soil conservation methods should be applied before planting in high sloppy lands.
Crop protection
No significant pest or disease problems have been recorded in Sri Lanka.
2-3 times weeding is necessary in the first year. But in the subsequent years weeding frequency is depending on the condition of the field.
Soil Conservation
Lemon grass is highly suitable for sloppy lands with high erosion. However suitable soil conservation methods should be applied before planting in high sloppy lands.
Crop protection
No significant pest or disease problems have been recorded in Sri Lanka.
Harvesting and Post Harvest practices
Harvesting
First harvest can be obtained after 3-6 months after planting. Subsequently harvest can be obtained after every three months. Yield is low in the first year and the higher yield can be obtained in 3-4 years. Harvesting should be done only in sunny days and grass is cut 10cm above the ground. Harvested grass is spread in the field and allowed to wilt for about two days and make bundles before sending for the processing.
Yield – 3-10 mt. fresh yield/ha
First harvest can be obtained after 3-6 months after planting. Subsequently harvest can be obtained after every three months. Yield is low in the first year and the higher yield can be obtained in 3-4 years. Harvesting should be done only in sunny days and grass is cut 10cm above the ground. Harvested grass is spread in the field and allowed to wilt for about two days and make bundles before sending for the processing.
Yield – 3-10 mt. fresh yield/ha
Processing
Water distillation method is used to obtain oil.
Slandered Quality Specifications
Quality of lemon grass oil is guided from the citral content and from the solubility in alcohol.
Water distillation method is used to obtain oil.
Slandered Quality Specifications
Quality of lemon grass oil is guided from the citral content and from the solubility in alcohol.
Lemon grass oil (Cymbopogon flexuosus)
Citral content – should be higher than 75%
Soluble in 70% ethyl alcohol
Sera oil (Cymbopogon citrates)
Citral content is low
Not soluble in 70% alcohol
Citral content – should be higher than 75%
Soluble in 70% ethyl alcohol
Sera oil (Cymbopogon citrates)
Citral content is low
Not soluble in 70% alcohol
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