Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)

Botanical Name: Pelargonium graveolens
Family: Geraniaceae
Plant Part Used: Terminal stem with 6-12 leaves

Chemical Composition and Demand

• Chief constituents: Geraniol (68-75%) and Citronellol (23-24%)
• Annual oil demand: 40-50 tonnes
• Internal production: 20 tonnes (India imports geranium oil at a higher cost)

Uses

• Widely used in perfumery and cosmetic industries due to its agreeable and profound rose-like odor.
• Used in inexpensive soaps and perfumes.
• Important in the production of Rhodinol, a key component in high-grade perfumes.
• Tannins obtained as a byproduct from stems and leaves after oil extraction.

Types of Geranium

1. Rose Geranium
2. Ornamental Geranium (only used as an ornamental plant)

Types of Rose Geranium

1. Algerian or Tunisian Type:
   • Produces dark pink flowers
   • Not suitable for wet soil
   • Grown in Nilgiri hills
2. Bourbon or Reunion Type:
   • Produces light pink flowers
   • Suitable for wet soil
   • Oil quality is superior
   • Grown in Nilgiri and Annamalai hills

Improved Varieties

• Kodaikanal-1
• Hemanti
• Kunti

Soil Requirements

• Well-drained, deep, porous, slightly calcareous soils
• Good drainage is essential
• Optimum pH: 5.5-7.0

Climatic Requirements

• Prefers mild climates
• Optimum temperature: 20-25°C
• Resistant to drought but susceptible to frost

Propagation

• Propagated through terminal stem cuttings
• Propagation period: November

Land Preparation

• As the crop stands for 3-10 years, the land should be thoroughly prepared.
• Layout: Ridges and furrows
• Spacing: 60 x 60 cm (normal planting), 45 x 45 cm (close planting for higher herbage yield)
• Number of cuttings per hectare: 30,000 (normal), 57,000 (close planting)

Planting Period June-July or December-January

Nutrient Management

• Farmyard manure: 10-20 tonnes/ha
• Basal dose: 40-60 kg N, P2O5, and K2O per hectare
• Additional nitrogen (200 kg/ha) applied in six split doses for top working

Irrigation Weekly irrigation is required

Harvesting

• First harvest: 4-6 months after planting
• Harvesting frequency: Once every 3-4 months

Maturity Indices

• Appearance of flowers
• Leaves turn light green, with lower leaves turning yellow
• Lemon-like odor of leaves changes to a rose-like scent

Yield

• Herbage yield: 20-30 tonnes/ha
• Oil yield: 20-30 kg/ha