Cultivation Of Lavender

LavenderArea 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. : --

LavenderHarvesting

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

Alpha-pinene

Cumene

Camphene

Beta-pinene

myrcene

Limonene

1,8-cineole

p-cymene

Limonene oxide

Citronellol acetate

Lavendulyl acetate

Farnesene

2.3%

0.2%

1.02%

0.42%

1.29%

0.47%

11.0%

1.82%

0.27%

0.57%

0.45%

0.13%

0.07%

LavenderIntercultural 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.

LavenderManuring & Fertilization

Generally 100kg N, 40kg each of P O and K O per hectare is recommended of which 20 kg N and 2 5 2

the entire P O and K O are applied as basal dose. The balance 80 kg of N is applied in four split 2 5 2

doses during each year. CIMAP centre at Srinagar has obtained highest spike yield by application

of 150kg N/ha.

LavenderPlanting

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.

LavenderPropagation

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 14-15° 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.

LavenderSoil & 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.

LavenderVarieties

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.