Cultivation & Economics of

Lemongrass, Palmarosa &

Citronella

Kamlesh Kumar
Fragrance and Flavour Development Centre
Kannauj- 209 726, India
E-mail: kk423845@gmail.com, ag@ffdcindia.com
 Lemongrass
Common Name Lemongrass, Nimbu Ghas
Botanical Name Cymbopogon flexuosus L.
Family Graminae
Improved Varieties CKP-25, Krishna, Kalam, etc.
Planting time June-August
Quantity of plants needs 35-38,000slips/ha.
Life span 3 to 4 years
Type of soil Sandy Loam & good drainage
Yield 200 to 250 kg/ha/year
Cost of cultivation Rs. 60,000/ha.
Market Rate Rs. 1100/kg
Gross return Rs. 2,20,000/ha
Net return Rs. 1,60,000/ha
Main chem. Constituents Citral –A&B
Uses Perfumery & Pharmaceuticals
Products From Lemongrass
1. Lemongrass Tea
2. Lemongrass Oil
3. Lemon Fragrance
4. Lemon Balm
 Palmarosa
Common Name: Palmarosa, Rosha Ghas
Botanical Name: Cymbopogon martinii L.
Family: Graminae
Improved Varieties: PRC-1, Trishna, Tripta, etc.
Seed Requirement 4-5 kg/ha.
Planting/sowing time May-June (Nursery)
July to Aug. (Transplanting)
Life span: 3 to 4 years
Type of soil Sandy loam &low fertile soil
with good drainage
Yield of oil 100 to 125 kg/ha./Year
Cost of cultivation Rs. 50,000/ha.
Market Rate of oil Rs. 1800/kg
Gross return Rs. 180,000/ha
Net return Rs. 1,30,000/ha
Main Chem. Const. Geraniol and Geranyl Acetate
Uses Perfumery
 Products from Palmarosa

1.Palmarosa Oil
2.Geraniol
3.Cosmetics
 Citronella Java
Common Name Citronella Java
Botanical Name Cymbopogon winterianus L.
Improved Varieties Bio-13, Manjusha, Jalpallavi, etc.
Life span 3 to 4 years
Type of soil Sandy loam to loam
with good drainage
Harvesting Every 3 to 4 months
Oil Yield 170 to 180 kg/ha.
Cost of cultivation Rs. 60,000/ha.
Market Rate Rs. 1200/kg
Gross return Rs. 2,16,000/ha
Net return Rs. 1,56,000/ha
Main. Chem. Cons. Citronellol, Citronellal, etc.
Uses perfumery, Mosquito repellent
 Products from Citronella
1.Citronella Oil
2. Citronellal, Geraniol
3. Mosquito/Insect repellent
4. Cosmetics
 Sandalwood
Botanical Name Santalum album
Hindi Name Chandan
Planting material Rooted plant/seed
Host Plants Duranta spp/ Pigeon pea
Average life span of plant 60 year
Average Maturation time 18-20 year
Planting time March-April, July-August
Soil type sandy loam with good
Water drainage
Spacing 4X5 meter
Plants required/ha 500 approx.
Fertilizers FYM with neem cake
 Cultivation cost
S. No. Activity Amount (in Rs.)
1. Cost of rooted plant @Rs. 150/plant 75,000.00
2. Cost of Host plants @Rs. 30/host plant 15,000.00
Transportation cost@Rs.10/plant approx. 5000.00
3. Cost of Land preparation/Ha 15000.00
4. Cost of FYM & Neem cake 15 ton/Ha/ year up to 20 900,000.00
year @3000/ton
5. Labour cost for making of pits & plantation of rooted 10000.00
plants
6. Irrigation @22000/year approx. For 20 year 440,000.00
7. Weeding @24000/year for 20 year 480,000.00
8. Pruning @15000/year for 20 year 300,000.00
9. Organic Insecticide/pesticide @10000/year approx. for 200,000.00
20 year
10. Plant Security @20,000/month approx. for last 10 year 2400,000.00
11. Miscellaneous expenditure @Rs. 50,000/year 20,00,000.00
Total 50,40,000.00
Total Average expenditure/year 2,52,000.00
 Return
Gross return
S. No. Particulars Average price (in Amount (in Rs.)
Rs.)
1. Average production of heartwood 2500/Kg 3,75,00,000.00
30 kg/plant after 20 year

2. Average production of sapwood 100/kg 50,00,000.00

100 kg/plant after 20 year

Total 4,25,00,000.00

Net Return
Rs. 4,25,00,000 -50,40,000
=Rs.374,60,000/20 year
Products from Sandalwood

1. Making of attar
2. Making of Fragrance
3. Cosmetics