Lemongrass is a tropical perennial plant which yields aromatic oil. Lemongrass belongs to the family Graminae (Poaceae) and the genus Cymbopogon. Generally, three species are identified:
Cymbopogon flexuosus
Cymbopogon citrates
Cymbopogon pendulus
Lemongrass prefers tropical or subtropical climates. it grows well at a temperature range of 10 to 33 °c, and it needs enough sunshine for the development of oil in the plant. the grass is sensitive to cold weather and cannot withstand frost.
Lemongrass is widely adapted to a range of soils and performs well on sandy to clay loam soils with a pH range of 5.0 to 8.4 and good drainage, the lower the altitude and more alkaline the soil has, the higher is the citral content of the oil.
It can be propagated by seeds as well as vegetatively by slips. For better quality and yield of oil it is recommended to be grown only by slips obtained by dividing well grown up clumps. After planting, if there are no rains, the plots should be irrigated every alternate day for about a month and then once a week depending upon the soil type and weather conditions.
Lemongrass
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