Mentha spp. (Mint)

Botanical Name: Mentha spp.
Family: Lamiaceae
Plant Part Used: Roots

Uses

1. The oil and its principal aroma compound, menthol, have cooling and gastro-stimulant properties, making them valuable in pharmaceuticals such as pain balms, cough syrups, cough lozenges, tablets, and ointments.
2. Oil enhances the shelf life of edible products and grains due to the antimicrobial property of menthol.
3. Mint oil is extensively used in flavoring toothpaste, candies, beverages, confectioneries, chewing gums, pan parag, mouthwashes, and betel-related products.
4. Mints are also used in shaving creams, tobacco, cigarettes, aerosols, polishes, and hair lotions.
5. Mint oil is a soothing ingredient in cosmetics, colognes, deodorants, aftershave lotions, and perfume bases.
6. Spent grass is used as manure or mulch and is also utilized in making paper boards and paper.

Soil Requirements

• Well-drained, deep, fertile soils rich in humus with good water-holding capacity.
• Sandy loam soil is preferred.
• pH range: 6.0-7.5.
• Since it is a shallow feeder, it cannot withstand water stagnation.

Climate Requirements

• Requires a long-day photoperiod, suitable for subtropical regions up to 1000 m elevation.
• Annual rainfall: 1000-1200 mm, well distributed throughout the growing season.
• Bright sunshine during harvest enhances herbage and oil yield.
• Shade and frost are unsuitable for mint cultivation.

Improved Varieties

• Shivalik (High menthol content 75-80%)
• Kosi
• CIMAP/Hybrid-77
• RRL-118/3
• Himalaya
• Saksham
• Kushal
• Gomati
• Kiran
• EC-41911

Method of Propagation

• Commercial propagation is done clonally by stolons/suckers.
• 400-500 kg of fresh, juicy stolons/suckers from a 0.1 ha healthy, vigorous plantation are required as planting material for 1 ha of land.

Planting Time

• Mid-January to early February.
• Stolon of 6-10 cm length with 2-4 growing points formed during winter are planted either in flat beds or on ridges and furrows.
• Planting depth: 2 cm.
• Spacing: 40×10 cm or 45×15 cm.
• Stolons should be dipped in 0.1% Captan or Bavistin solution for 2 minutes before planting.
• A day temperature of 20-25°C with light showers favors rapid growth.

Cultural Practices

Weeding:

• Essential for the first 2-3 months until the planting material is well established.
• Earthing Up: Done up to 4 months after planting.

Nutrient Management

• Farmyard Manure (FYM): 20 t/ha.
• Recommended Fertilizer Dose: 50:75:37 kg NPK/ha per year (Basal dose).
• Top Dressing: Remaining 75 kg N is applied in three split doses.

Irrigation Management

• Frequent irrigation is necessary for healthy crop growth.
• Irrigation Interval:
  • 15 days in winter.
  • 10 days in summer.

Harvesting

• Harvesting is done at the flowering stage on dry, sunny days.
• The first harvest occurs 3 months after planting when flowers appear and lower leaves start yellowing.
• The first harvest should be completed before the onset of the monsoon.
• Subsequent harvests are done in September and November/December.
• The crop is cut 5-10 cm above ground level using a sharp sickle.
• Harvesting on cloudy or rainy days significantly reduces the menthol content in the oil.

Yield

• Herbage Yield: 25-30 tonnes/ha per year.
• Oil Yield: 150-200 kg of oil/ha.

Oil Constituents

• Menthol Content: 70-80%.