Isabgol the king of medicinal plants.

1. Production Technology of
Isabgol
- J.Delince

2. Isabgol(Plantago ovata)
- Family: Plantaginaceae
- Persian words ʺisapʺ and ʺgholʺ that mean horse ear
- It is 10-15 cm tall short-stemmed annual herb.
- Leaf: Alternate Phyllotaxy.
- Flower: terminal spikes
- Fruit- capsule.
- Origin- Mediterranean region and Persia
- English name: Blond psyllium , Spogel seeds

3. National production scenario
- India is the largest producer of Isabgol seeds
- Area:137777ha
- Production: 97500 tonnes
- Productivity: 670kg/ha
- Gujarat is leading in the production
- Gujarat and Rajasthan contribute the 90% of the production
- Husk production: 18-19’000t and 14000t is exported
- USA is the major importer of the husk

4. Production Technology:
- Soil: Sandy loam to loamy soils, well drained, with pH between 7-8
- Climate: Cool climate at initial growth stages followed by dry
weather during maturity
- Varieties: Gujarat-1, Gujarat-2, Jawahar Isabgol ,Niharika by CIMAP,
Lucknow, Haryana Isabgol (HI-5)
- Seed rate: 4-8Kg/ha(Mixed with sand or FYM at the
rate of 1:10)

5. Production Technology:
- Land shaping: Land is ploughed to fine tilth andBeds of convenient
sizes are made
- Sowing: Broadcasting or sowing in rows of 15cm apart
- Irrigation: First-After sowing, Second- After 3 weeks totally 7 irrigations
are needed
- Manures and Fertilizers: FYM-10-15 t/ha, NPK: 50:25:30kg/ha, Top
dressing of 25Kg N/ha is done at 35 DAS

6. Production Technology:
• Weeding: First weeding at 20-25DAS, and 2-3 weeding during the crop
period
• Flowering: It starts on 2months after sowing
• Yellowing of the leaves and spike turning to brown color
Indicates the maturity

7. Harvest:
• The plants are harvested by cutting close to the ground in the early
morning hours
• It is stacked for 1 to 2 days and then trampled by bullocks, winnowed
and the seed is separated and collected.
• After milling husk will be removed and The whole seeds and husk are
stored separately. During screening the seeds are graded to 70 mesh
which is of export quality. High quality husk is white in color without red
seeds. The husk seed ratio is 25:75
• The yield will be 800-1000Kg/ha

8. Husk:
• A translucent membrane surrounding seed
• It has 30%mucilage made of Xylose, arabinose, galacturonic acid
• Husk yield -225-375Kg/ha
• The shelf life of the husk is six months

9. Seed and husk powder

10. Processing:
Raw seeds
Precleaning
and cleaning
Dehusking Husk and seeds
Crushing Husk powder
Packing in bags
with inner poly
liner

11. Uses:
• It is an anti-diarrheal drug
• It is used for treating constipation and other intestinal disorders.
• The seed has also cooling and demulcent effects
• The seeds and husk are used to cure inflammation of the mucous
membrane of gastro-intestinal membranes(ulcers)
• It is also used in dyeing, calico printing
• In the ice cream as stabilizer
• The seeds show coolant, diuretic, laxative, expectorant, refrigerant
properties

12. Products

13. Reference:
• Production technology of Medicinal and Aromatic crops- M.Kadar
Mohaideen, Arumugam Shakila, A.Anburani page: 90
• Handbook of Horticulture-2011
• www.altrafine.com/blog/psyllium
• A report on isabgol seed by national Multi-commodity Exchange of
India ltd
• www.indg.com

14. Thank you