Senna (Cassia angustifolia) is an erect shrub reaching over 70 cm in height that is native to South Africa and India. It is mainly cultivated in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu in India on about 10,000 hectares. Senna leaves and pods are used for their laxative properties and contain sennosides A, B, C, and D. India is the world's largest producer of senna.
2. Plant Profile :
English name : Indian senna
Sanskrit name : Swarnapatri
Species : over 300 species and 50 species of Senna are
known in cultivation.
mainly Cassia senna and Cassia angustifolia
Distribution : South Africa, India, Sudan
in India in southern districts of TN viz.
Ramanathpuram & Madurai in about 10,000 ha
Uses : Drug (Laxative property)
4. Introduction :
• Erect shrub reaching more than 70 cms in height
• Mainly leaves and pods are used
• Contains Sennosides A, B, C & D (1-1.5%) which is used for
preparation of Laxatives and Purgatives
• Flowers are yellow in color and pods contains 5-7 dark brown
seeds
• India ranks 1st in its production and annually earns 45 millions
• Almost all senna leaves are exported to London markets
• Senna also contains a yellow flavonol colouring matter
Kaempferol.
Acting as an antioxidant by reducing stress
5. Production technology :
• Climate :
High temperature and humid climate
Low rainfall
• Soil :
Grows well in sandy loam soil with pH range 7-8.5
Sensetive to waterlogged conditions, heavy rainfall and low temperature
Can withstand moderately saline conditions
6. Land preparation and sowing :
• Ploughed land is exposed to sun for 2-3 weeks
• Fine tilth is made and sowing @5kgs/ha
• Treatment of seeds before sowing with fungicides
(Thiram,Captan @2.5g/kg) to prevent damping off
• Seed – Seed distance 30-40 cms in line sowing
• Optimum seed depth is 1.5-2 cms
• Light irrigation is needed at the time of germination and
establishment
7. • Usually two sowings are done
in Tirunelveli tract one during
February March and the
second one during July-
November.
• Germination commences in
13 days of sowing and is over
in another one week.
• The seed has a thick coat and
can remain in field in hot
weather without any injury
but sprouted seed can seldom
withstand the lack of soil
moisture and usually dies.
• Crop is thinned at 30 days to
maintain a plant to plant
distance of 30cms in a row.
8. Nutrient management and irrigation :
• 20 to 25 tonns/ha of FYM is used before sowing
• N : P : K is 52-100 : 20-50 : 20
• 40 kgs of N and 50 kgs of P is used at the time of sowing and
rest of N at 35,85 and 110 DAS in equal doses
• Avg. Rainfall of 35 to 40 cm in June to Oct is sufficient
• Irrigation is done at 40, 75 and 100 DAS when plant bears new
growth of foliage and flowers
• Weeding is practiced at 25,75 and 110 DAS
9. Harvesting :
• Young senna leaves have high sennoside content but seeds do
not
• First harvest is done at 50-70 DAS depending upon plant
growth
• Second harvest is done at 90-100 DAS and third at 130 to 150
DAS
• Its root bark also contains sennoside but not use for trade
• Harvested crop is spread in thin layer in an open area to reduce
moisture and furthur drying in well ventilated drying shed for
3 to 5 days having 8% moisture
• Proper drying causes light green to greenish yellow and
improper drying causes brown black color
10. • Good yield is 1500kgs/ha of dry leaves and 700 kgs/hac of dry
pods under irrigated condition
• Yield decreases to 1000kgs/ha and 400kgs/ha in rainfed
conditions.
• Leaf spot and leaf blight is caused by Cercospora spp.
• 0.15 % of Diathane M45 is spread 3 times within 6 weeks to
control this.