Introduction
Aloe Vera gel possess various properties viz., healing ability of skin burns and cutaneous injuries, anti ulcer, inhibitory action against some bacteria and fungi etc.
Soil and climate
Well drained laterite to loamy soils is suited for aloe cultivation with pH range of 7.0 to 8.5.Commercial cultivation can be done in regions having 25 – 40°C. It has wide adaptability and can be grown in warm, humid or dry climate with rainfall ranging from 35-40 cm to 150-200 cm annually
Seed rate and planting
It is propagated through suckers. The suckers are dipped in 0.1 % Carbendazim for five minutes and planted in the field. For planting one hectare of land, 10,000 suckers are required. Suckers of 15-20 cm long and weighing 75 g are planted at 90 x 90 cm spacing in such a way that 2/3 portion should be under the ground.
Manures and Fertilizers
Incorporate 10 t/ha of FYM during last ploughing.
Irrigation
Soon after planting, the land should be irrigated. Generally 4-5 irrigations are sufficient per year particularly during the peak dry period.
Inter cultivation
Two to three weedings should be done per year. Small suckers arising from the base can be removed and marketed or planted in the nursery.
Harvesting
The plants are harvested at 10-12 months after planting. The plants can be removed manually. The broken rhizome part left in the soil throws out new sprouts in spring for raising the succeeding crop. An aloe plantation gives a commercial yield from the second year up to the age of five years, after which it needs replanting.
Yield
An average leaf yield of 15 t/ha can be obtained