Common Name : Sonamukhi
Botanical Name : Cassia angustifolia Vahl.
Family : Caesalpmiaeeae
Cultivation:
Climate:
Grown in irrigated as well as rainfed eondjtfefis. Adversely affected by heavy rainfall and severe cold.
Soils: Well drained sandy soils.
Sowing:
Sowing can be done thrice in a year, Rainiall at the time of harvesting cause a problem fordrying-to overcome this the sowing dates must be adjusted. Generally first sowing during February – March, second in September – October are recommended.
Duration: Season wise : 90-140 days, for pod purpose: 150 days. Spacing : 45 x 30 cm
Depth : 1.0-1.5 cm
Seed Rate : 20 kg/ha for drilling with 1.5 inches depth.
Fertilizers :
Though Seena belongs to legtmnnesae ftoily, it <$oes not have nitrogen fixing nodules. Hence there is need to fertile Die crop. The dose is fixed according to the soil type.
For light soils: Basaidose: N:P – 25 : 25 kg/ha.
Second dose : N 25 kg/ha (20 days after sowing) Irrigation : Seasonwise according to the soil type and necessity.
Diseases anil Pests:
Leaf spot and Red rot : Spray Dithane Z – 78 @ 0.02%
Leaf eating Caterpiller and Brown spotted Caterpiller : Spray Carbary 1@
2.0 – 2.5 gm/1 of water.
Harvesting :
The ‘Sennocide’ % of dark green leaves is high. At the time of initiation of flowering the Sennocide content is high. When the buds are yellow and mature and when the leaves are dark green, the Sennocide content is highest (3.33%)
Drying of Leaves:
After plucking the leaves immediately dry in shade. Within a period of 7 – 10 days the leaves will dry up.
Yield:
Sr.No. | Crop | Leaf yield | Seed yield |
1 | Rainfed crop | 700 | 100 |
2 | Irrigated crop | 1400 – 2000 | 150 – 200 |
Storage:
Dried leaves packed in bales or dry leaf / flower powder will be easy for storage.
Market Rates:
Present rate for leaves is around Rs. 50 – 70 per kg.
For pods Rs. 70 – 80 per kg.
Seed Availability:
M/s Bharat Enka Producers,
Dhavalgang, Carter Road,
Vandra East,
MUMBAI – 400 050
Marketing:
i) Glaxo India Ltd.
Anne Besant road, Worli,
MUMBAI – 25
ii) PSS Ganeshan and Sons,
107th Avenue Street,
Tuvipuram, Tuticroin,
Tamil Nadu 628 003
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