BHUI AMLA (BHUMYAMALAKI)

                Phyllanthus amarus Schum. & Thonn.

             (Syn. P. niruri auct. non. Linn.)

Phyllanthus amarus plants are found to grow abundantly throughout India during rainy season.  The plants are erect annual herb, 30-90 cm tall, stem simple or branched, leaves lanceolate, flower monoecious, capsules oblate, seeds light brown in colour.  Traditional practitioners for the treatment of jaundice and other diseases have used it widely.

Varieties:  A strain of P. amarus, identified and domesticated by CIMAP. Generally strains from Tamil nadu -  South India contain higher percentage of phyllanthin.

Cultivation: The crop is propagated through seeds.  For raising the seedlings, the seeds are sown in well-prepared nursery beds. Being minute, the seeds are mixed with dry soil or sand to allow uniform distribution of seeds on the nursery bed.  Later a thin layer of soil is spread to cover the seed.  Appropriate moisture is maintained in the beds till the germination of the seeds.  The cultivation of it can be done anytime through out the year. It is not a seasonal crop. If the farmer has sufficient water then he can cultivate it in any time of the year. Nursery should be raised before 30-35 days when the rainy season starts in that particular region. Normally nursery is raised in the month of May and about 1 kg seeds are sufficient for producing seedlings required for 1 acre of land.  Five - Six weeks old seedlings (10-15 cm tall) are transplanted at a spacing of 15 cm x 15 cm on flat beds of convenient size (40-50 m²).  Beds are prepared through ploughing, harrowing and leveling.  5-10 tonnes FYM, 250 kg single super phosphate and 70 kg of muriate of potash are mixed with the soil during final land preparation.  First irrigation is given immediately after transplanting and thereafter, irrigation during dry spell boost growth and yield of the crop. 

Interculture-Fertilizers: First weeding is done 25-30 days after transplanting and thereafter as and when required.  The crop is fertilized with 100 kg N per ha applied in two equal split doses at 30 and 45 days after transplanting. 

Pests and Diseases: No major pest and disease has been reported causing economic damage to the crop.

Harvesting-Profits: Plants are harvested when the rainy season is over, and they are still green and herbaceous.  As the plants mature there is increase in both height and total herb mass.  However, the leaf quantity decreases considerably with aging due to the fall of their lower leaves.  The main increase in the weight of herb mass is due to the increase of stem weight, which becomes woody after maturity.  Since the active constituents of P. amarus are concentrated more in the leaves, production of higher leaf mass is desired for the extraction.  Plants in September- October contain highest amount of leaves and found to be suitable time for harvesting.  The crop yields about 1 tonne-1.25 of dry herbage (whole plant) and considering a market value of Rs.20 per kg a gross  profit of Rs.20000 per acre  may be obtained in four months.  Farmers willing to take up its cultivation are advised to contact Chief Executive Officer, Medicinal Plants Board, Department of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy, Indian Red Cross Society Building, Red Cross Road, New Delhi-110 001 for marketing of produce.

It is used as one of the main ingredient in  72 auyrvedic products with different manufactures.

Reliable source to get seeds: -                        MANAGING DIRECTOR

M/s RAJ & COMPANY                                                VIJAY KUMAR