As Musli grows naturally in most parts of India, as per practical experience it can grow successfully in the wide range of temperature and rainfall. Sandy loam soil with proper drainage system facilitates its growth.
The preaparation of Land
The Land is to be required to be prepared in the month of April - May.
Proper Soil treatment including Deep Ploughing, Tillering is must to give land a better Pulverization and Dryness in the month of March and April.
At least five trollys of Cow dung manure per Acre should be mixed in the month of April or May.
Raised beds should be prepared (as per planning of plantation) in the end of Month May.
The Raised bed distance should be 24 inches and height should be 10-12 inches.
All the raised Beds should be well irrigated before sowing the planting Material. Raised bed help in growing of tubers of Musli and to facilitate the proper drainage.
The distance of beds could be increased to 3.5 feets, but it requires irrigation by drip irrigation systems only.
Sowing of Musli
The sowing of Safed Musli starts with the first shower of the monsoon.
Distance
Sowing on Beds 54"/8"
Sowing on Ridge 24"/7"
Two to three fingers approximately attached to a part of crown.
Treat the fingers of tubers planting material either with urine of cow or with Bovestin and Streptocyclin before planting in order to keep it free from any kind of fungus.
Maintenance
Two weedsof the crop are required to free it from the weeds which should be controlled manually by labours.
Any kind of deficiency should be immediately traced and the required element should be supplied.
Some few especial techniques practiced have to be observed either by training or by frequently visiting.
The first three months from the sowing date are very important and the field needs most care.
Maturing of the Crop
In the month of October - November the leaves of Musli starts yellowing.
Subsequently they become dry and fall off and get detached from the tuber/disc.
Harvesting of the Crop
After Maturity stage of the crop means that the crop cycle is complete, hence its tuner should be dug out as per practical experience.
Digging: This means digging the bunch of safed musli from ground. This process involves around 60-70 men per day to dig one acre land. The complete process should be seen by the labour so as to enable him to get the complete yield safely.
Drying: Part of the yield dogged out is peeled and then dried to almost 20%. This dried musli is then sent to the market. There should be a clear understanding of this process.
On an average this crop gives a yield of 25 quintals of wet musli per acre. After peeling and drying up nearly 20 percent of dry musli is finally obtained.
Reference
