White Musli
Economic Part – Tuberous root
Varieties – RC-2, RC-16, RC-36,
RC-20, RC-23 and RC-37
Total duration of crop – 3-4 months
Soil and Climate –
Safed Musli thrives best
in well-drained loam to sandy – loam soils enriched with organic matter. A soil
pH between 6.5 and 7 provides ideal conditions for its growth. The crop prefers
dry weather and does not tolerate very low temperatures, making it suitable for
cultivation across most parts of India. It performs well in warm, humid
climates, and adequate soil moisture during the growing period supports healthy
development of its thick, fleshy roots.
Land Preparation –
Transplanting –
After 20–30 days, the young
seedlings become ready for field transplantation. During the kharif season,
they are transplanted at a spacing of 30×15 cm in the well-prepared field.
Light irrigation is given immediately after transplanting to help seedlings
establish.
Vegetative Propagation -
For vegetative multiplication,
healthy fleshy roots about 1 cm in length are selected. Using the stumping
method, sprouted roots are planted in rows during the first or second week of
June at 15×15 cm or 20×20 cm spacing. Proper irrigation after planting supports
uniform growth. Typically, 200–325 kg of tuberous roots per hectare is adequate
for commercial cultivation.
Root Treatment -
Before planting, the roots are
treated with a fungicide such as Bavistin at 1.5 g per litre of water.
Additionally, treating the roots with humic acid at 2 ml per litre of water can
help stimulate strong root development.
Irrigation -
To maintain optimal soil moisture,
irrigation should be given every 10–15 days, depending on soil conditions. In
the absence of rainfall, drip irrigation is highly effective. The plant naturally
sheds its leaves during November–December. After leaf drop, providing
irrigation until the end of January is important to support the development of
underground roots.
Fertilizers -
For higher yields, 250–300 kg of
super phosphate and 100–125 kg of potassium sulphate per hectare should be
applied at the time of sowing. About one month after planting, supply 20–25 kg
of micronutrients along with 100–120 kg of ammonium sulphate and additional
potassium sulphate. After another month (two months from sowing), an extra dose
of 125 kg ammonium sulphate is recommended to ensure vigorous plant growth.
Harvesting –
Safed Musli reaches maturity roughly
90 days after planting. As the crop ripens, the leaves begin to turn yellow,
dry from the base and eventually fall off—this signals that the crop is ready
for harvest, usually around September to October. While digging, care should be
taken to gently lift the fleshy root clusters from the soil. The freshly
harvested roots are then cleaned, separated, and dried in shade for about 4–7
days to obtain high-quality white musli.
Yield -
Under proper cultivation practices,
the crop can produce 20–30% higher yields. On average, 800–1000 kg of fresh
roots can be harvested per hectare for 4–5 consecutive years, after which
productivity gradually decreases. After processing and drying, this quantity
results in approximately 200–300 kg of premium dried roots.
Medicinal Properties of Safed Musli
- Natural Aphrodisiac
- Strength and Energy Booster
- Immunity Enhancer
- Adaptogenic Properties
- Anti–inflammatory Benefits
- Reproductive Health Support
- General Wellness Tonic
Approximate economics of cultivation per hectare:
Total expenditure for cultivation in approx. ₹ 2,25,000/hectare.
Sold
at ₹ 1000 to ₹ 1200 / kg, depending upon the quality of roots.
|
Ist Year |
₹ |
|
Cost of planting material @ ₹ 500/- per kg for 300kg of tuber |
1,50,000 |
|
Nursery raising |
2000 |
|
Land preparation |
3000 |
|
Manure/ Fertilizer |
20,000 |
|
Irrigation/ Drip installation |
30,000 |
|
Miscellaneous/ Labour charges |
20,000 |
|
Total |
₹2,25,000 |
Output:
Yield of about 200-300 kg of dry
musli during Ist year of cultivation.
Returns per
hectare:
Sale price ₹ 1000 to 1200/kg
·
300 x 1000 = ₹ 3,00,000
·
Net
income during Ist year
= 3,00,000 – 2,25,000
= ₹ 75,000