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Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus); Apocynaceae

Nirmal, Dhawal and Prabal

It is suited to all types of soil and tropical climatic conditions. Well distributed annual rainfall of 100 cm or more is ideal for raising as a rainfed crop.

Propagated through seeds either by direct sowing or through transplanting.

Direct sowing: 2.5 kg /ha Transplanting: 0.5 kg /ha 45 – 60 days old seedlings are transplanted at a spacing of 45 x 20 cm during June – July or September – October.

Basal
Apply FYM at 10 t/ha and N, P and K @ 25:50:75kg each /ha.
Top dressing
Apply 50 kg N 60 days after planting.

The crop requires 2 weedings, the first at 90 days after sowing/transplanting and second 60 days after the first weeding.
The roots are ready for harvest after one year. Two leaf strippings can be taken, the first one after 6 months and the second at 12 months of sowing. Aerial parts are cut and the soil is ploughed for the harvest of roots. Roots are collected without damage.

                                  Irrigated                                                              Rainfed
Roots                         1500 kg/ha                                                            750 kg/ha
Stems                        1500 kg/ha                                                            1000 kg/ha
Leaves                      3000 kg/ha                                                            2000 kg/ha

The physiological maturity of periwinkle seeds is attained at 40 days after anthesis with maximum dry weight, germination and vigour with a change of pod colour from green to yellow with translucence. Seeds can be processed by using 4/64″ round perforated metal sieves with maximum seed recovery.
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