White Musli

Safed Musli – Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau                                              

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 –

To prepare the field, the soil is ploughed deeply 2-3 times and thoroughly cleared of weeds. About 10-15 tonnes of well decomposed FYM are applied to enrich the soil. The land is then levelled and marked at a spacing of 20 x 20 cm or 15 x 15 cm, followed by the preparation of small pits approximately 5cm deep.

Nursery Raising -
            Raised seed beds are prepared using a blend of sand, soil, and FYM. Seeds are sown uniformily, lightly covered with soil, and watered gently. Covering the beds with leaf litter during the first and second week of June helps maintain moisture, especially when early monsoon showers are delayed. Seed germination begins within 12-16 days.

 

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 I^st year of cultivation.

Returns per hectare: 

            Sale price ₹ 1000 to 1200/kg

·         300 x 1000 = ₹ 3,00,000

·         Net income during I^st year

= 3,00,000 – 2,25,000

= ₹ 75,000