Cultivation Practices of Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is a succulent, almost sessile perennial herb growing up to 1 meter. The leaves are radially arranged in two or three circles. Each leaf is 30-50 cms long and 10 cms broad at the base having an indented margin. The leaves are pea-green coloured with occurrence of white spots when young. Bright yellow tubular flowers appear in a spike.
Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis) is probably the most widely used medicinal plant in the world and it is originated from africa. It has 250 species in the world and all are very famous. Aloes are easy going succulent plants that need very little maintenance. Aloe plants consist of plants consist of 95% water and they are very frost tender.Aloe vera is a succulent and therefore it requires large quantity of water according to its leaves and root. If aloe vera are grown outdoors in warm climates, they should be planted in full sun, or light shade. Aloe vera require moderately fertile, and fast draining soil.


Established plants will survive a drought quite well but if you want a good plant then water should be provided. This plant favor light, medium and basic soil, acid, neutral and basic soils and it is also require well-drained soil. It can grow in nutritionally poor soil and tolerate drought but can't grow in the shade.
Aloe vera belongs to the family Liliacae and is mainly cultivated for its thick fleshy leaves from which the yellow resinous latex or yellow sap or anthraquinones (the bitter yellow liquid between the leaf rind and gel) exudes and can be used as a laxative or purgative. If it is not processed properly it turned out to be poisonous. Nearly there are about 150 species in Aloe vera and these species belong to the succulent family like any other lilies or onions. 
In India Aloe Vera has been referred to as "kumari’ in Ayurvedic treatments where it was popularly used to treat the sore eyes, abrasions and wounds.


COMMON VARIETIES :


Aloe Barbadensis Miller,
Aloe Saponaria,
Aloe Chinensis,
Aloe Variegata,
Aloe Forex,
Aloe Lalifolia and
Curacao Aloe.
Of these the most popular is Aloe Barbadensis Miller which has most therapeutic value and referred to as ‘True Aloe’. After all the research, it has been accepted that Aloe Barbadensis Miller is the best, as it is the most consistent of all varieties.


Cultivation practices 


Propagation Method -  Pups (root suckers)
Aloe Vera is generally propagated by root suckers by carefully digging out without damaging the parent plant and planting it in the main field. It can also be propagated through rhizome cuttings by digging out the rhizomes after the harvest of the crop and making them into 5-6 cm length cuttings with a minimum of 2-3 nodes on them. Then they are rooted in specially prepared sand beds or containers.


The plant is ready for transplanting after the appearance of the first sprouts. 


Plantation method - Ridges 


Planting Material Requirement Per Acre -  5500 


Soil requirements  -  Loamy 


Climatic Requirements   -  Tropical, Sub- tropical 


Area Where Cultivated -   Through out India up to 5000ft above mean sea level 



Spacing          - Plant to plant - 30-45cm
                       - Row to row - 60cm


Typical No. of Plants / Acre   - 5000 


Sowing Period    -     June - July (monsoon) 


Harvesting Period  -  After 12months 


Manures & Fertilizers  - FYM ( 5-10 Tons / Acre ) 


Irrigation -   Rainfed, Sprinklers


Useful Part -   Leaves 


USES :


Aloe vera helps heal wounds,
Aloe vera gel soothes burns,
Aloe vera minimizes frostbite damage,
Aloe vera screens out radiation,
Aloe vera protects from lung cancer,
Aloe vera eases intestinal problems,
Aloe vera reduces blood sugar in diabetes


Harvesting -   Manual cuttings after 18 months and 3 – 4 harvests can be done. Gel extraction (with in 3hrs of plucking) 


Yield Per Acre -   525 qtls/ha 


Processing unit
Aloe to be transformed into marketable form needs processing. The unit should preferably be located nearer to the cultivation site. The processing unit with a capacity of 1 ton gel output per day costs Rs. 20 lacs. The extraction of aloe is a labour intensive work so the quantity that can be processed also depends upon the availability of labour.


SAFETY :


Over dose of Aloe can cause diarrhea and kidney damage.
People who are on steroids, pills for irregular heart beat, diuretics, digoxin should not use Aloe.
People with intestinal disorders, pregnant and nursing mothers and children below 12 years should not use Aloe / Aloe latex.






(Compiled by Harsh Saxena)
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