Production Technology of Indigo

Adnan Niazi
Department of Agronomy
Mphil Scholar at BZU (BahauddinZakriyaUniversity, Multan)
[phone]

1. 1 Rana Nazer

2. INDIGO Presented By: Adnan Ashraf Niazi Roll No. BAGF13M096 Department of Agronomy 2 Rana Nazer University college of agriculture ,UOS

3. Contents: Rana Nazer 3 Introduction of plant Vernacular Names Origin and History Habitat Importance Botanical description Production technology Bibliography

4. Introduction of Plant: Kingdom: Plantae Phylum: Angiosperms Class: Eudicots Family: Fabaceae Genus: Indigofera Species: Tinctorea 4 Rana Nazer Indigo

5. Vernacular Names: Botanical Name: Indigophora tinctorea Sanskrit: Neelpushpa Hindi: Gouli,Lil English: Common Indigo, True Indigo 5 Rana Nazer

6. Origin and History: The origin of Indigofera tinctoria is not known It possibly originates from India. Its range has been greatly extended by its cultivation for indigo It occurs wild or naturalized in most countries of Africa, in Asia from Arabia to South-East Asia and in Australia. 6 Rana Nazer

7. Origin and History: In tropical America it certainly has been introduced The plant is found in South and South East Asia Tropical Africa and India floral region is North America The plant is cultivated in many parts of India, specially Central-East regions of Bihar, and West Bangal. Rana Nazer 7

8. Habitat It occurs at 0–1000 m altitude, in regions with an annual rainfall of 500–1500 mm and average annual temperature of 23°C. Too much continuous rain, water logging and flooding kill plants; excessive heat and hot winds cause withering. Rana Nazer 8

9. Habitat: Indigofera tinctoria occurs in seasonally flooded grassy fields with scattered trees, and also in roadsides, and on riverbanks, cultivated grounds and sandy coasts. 9 Rana Nazer

10. Uses: As fodder Indigofera tinctoria is hardly of value. In Kenya it is sometimes fed to camels and sheep, and goats occasionally eat it, but in India it is considered unpalatable to cattle. The leaves of the indigo plant are a major source of natural indigo, a blue dye used to dye jeans(textile). Rana Nazer 10

11. Uses: Indigofera tinctoria is used to produce the dye indigo. Indigofera tinctoria is a popular green manure, increasing rice yield while reducing the need to supply expensive nitrogen fertilizer to about half. 11 Rana Nazer

12. Medicinal Importance: The plant is useful in asthma, enlargement of spleen and liver, Intestinal obstruction, skin diseases and ulcers. The plant is also used for promoting growth of hairs. Rana Nazer 12

13. Medicinal Importance: The juice of leaves added with milk is administered in hydrophobia The leaves are applied externally as poultice in various skin diseases, scabies, to cleanse and heal wounds ulcers The extract of plant is useful in neuropathy. Rana Nazer 13

14. Medicinal Importance: The juice of young branches mixed with honey is used in ulcers of mouth. The leaves are useful in asthma, cough palpitation of heart certain lung disorders and kidney disorders. Rana Nazer 14

15. Botanical Description: A shrub up to 2m high,, Annual to perennial herb or sub-shrub Stem: Stem erect whitish, 2-branched hairs. Leaves: Leaves arranged spirally, 1.5–3 mm long; petiole up to 2 cm long, 15 Rana Nazer

16. Rana Nazer 16 Botanical Description: Indigofera tinctoria

17. Botanical Description: Flowers: Inflorescence a sessile, many-flowered auxiliary raceme up to 6 cm long. Flowers bisexual , small red or pinkish flowers. Rana Nazer 17 Flowering branch

18. Botanical Description: Fruit: Fruit a linear pod 20–35 mm long and 2 mm wide and thick, straight or slightly curved, rounded in cross-section, brown when ripe, 7–12-seeded fruits slender pods, source of indigo color Rana Nazer 18

19. Botanical Description: Seeds: Seeds shortly oblong, 2 mm × 1.5 mm, in cross-section. Seedling with epigeal germination; cotyledons thick; & Hard seed coat. Rana Nazer 19

20. Production Technology: Seed Rate: Propagation is by seed, of which 20–30 kg/ha is needed. Seed Treatment: The seeds commonly have a hard seed coat and soaking overnight in water or scarification with sulphuric acid can improve germination to over 90%. Rana Nazer 20

21. Production Technology: Preparation of land: Fields are prepared by hoeing or by one or two plowings after showers followed by light harrowing Sowing Method: Broadcast sowing is often done Sowing in a nursery and transplanting into the field may also be practiced Rana Nazer 21

22. Production Technology: Management   The crop normally requires little attention after sowing. Weeding is done when needed. Although Indigofera tinctoria is nitrogen fixing by its root nodules, additional N fertilization is not uncommon. Rana Nazer 22

23. Production Technology: Diseases and pests   No reports on diseases or pests are available for African countries. In Java Indigofera tinctoria is little susceptible to diseases or pests; in humid conditions. Plants may be attacked by Corticium salmonicolor . In the Philippines pests include chrysomelid beetles and Cletus spp. Rana Nazer 23

24. Production Technology: Harvesting   Branches are harvested by cutting 10–20 cm above ground level when the plants are 4–5 months old and have formed a closed stand, usually at the flowering stage. The crop should be harvested promptly because heavy rains or flooding can destroy it in a few hours. Rana Nazer 24

25. Production Technology: Harvesting: In India harvested branches are tied into bundles of about 130 kg and transported to the dye factory. Up to 3 harvests are possible per year when it is grown as a ratoon crop. Rana Nazer 25

26. Production Technology: Yield   In India the yield of green plant material per harvest is 10–13 t/ha. The dye yield is not known. Rana Nazer 26

27. Bibliography: A hand book of Medicinal Herbs, by Dr. Dhananjay J Deshpande http://iu.ff.cuni.cz/pandanus/database/details.php?id=642 Rana Nazer 27