Agrotechniques for High Altitude Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

The book embodies detail agrotechnology for twenty species of very important high altitude medicinal and aromatic plants. The book is the result of extensive field survey for the study of the adaptation features of these alpine plants, their phenological progression, population study and germplasm evaluation of these species in terms of variability, productivity and quality. Since most of the species presented here with their cultivation technology are habitants of remote and alpine areas where the possibilities of their cultivation do not exist due to heavy snow cover during 6 8 months, these species were grown initially at lower altitudes having different topography and microhabitat to check the possibilities of survival, productivity and better quality. Altitude between 1800 2500 m was taken into consideration as most of the villages in Uttaranchal are located within this limit. Subsequently, trials on survival growth performance, propagation techniques, productivity and quality was tested at 1800 m and 1200 m altitudes. After the trials on different components of technology, demonstration site for species is developed at 2200 m. Productivity and economic viability of cultivation tested at this site and is presented in the book. To make this book more useful brief information on every aspect of each species and research carried out by different Scientists is also included. References are also included for every species with the photographs of plants for easy identity followed by the photographs and sketches of different agronomic practices for these species. Cost of planting material, nutrient requirement, harvesting time and cost benefit analysis of some important species is also included to promote cultivation as well as to assure the benefit of cultivation of these species.