Lemon grass - Cymbopogon citratus

Description and Uses

Cymbopogon citratus (Lemon grass) is a tropical grass from Polonesia. It is mainly grown for its repellent pesticide crops (long shelflife), but also Other uses include; mulch, oil, ornamental, repellent pesticide and spice can be produced. The crop is harvested by pruning. It starts flowering after 1 - 5 years. The first yield will be 50 kg oil/ha/y but in its top season there will be a yield of 120 kg oil/ha/y. Array. Medical uses include; Array The fresh leaf contains citral (65 - 85). There is lemongrass oil extracted by steam distillation from the grass`s fresh leaf yielding 0.35 - 1% oil. The grass`s wood is called n/a and has a density of 400 - 700 kg/m³. Regarding firewood production the grass`s growing speed is medium, its energetic value is 4100 ckal/kg and the wood`s drying speed is slow; for firewood production it is not ideal. After 2 years the grass can be totally removed as it reached its commercial and ecological goal. Cymbopogon citratus has a lifespan of 10 years.

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Environmental limitations

The grass is 1 meters tall. It is medium growing and tolerates not less light than partial shade. Cymbopogon citratus has a deep root-system and forms symbiotic relations Glomus fasciculatum,Glomus mosseae (endo-mycorrhiza). It is not able to fix nitrogen. The grass`s flower-morphology is monoecious and is pollinated by wind. Cymbopogon citratus is evergreen and a bit allelopathic and has no thorns.

Cymbopogon citratus thrives in an altitude of 0 to 900 meters above sea-level (tropical). The minimum temperature is 1°C and optimally between 20 - 30°C. The optimal rainfall is 2100 mm/year. Without irrigation the annual rainfall should be between 600 - 3000 mm (L/m²). The optimal soil-pH is between 6.0 - 8.0 in a soil texture of sand. To salt it is a bit tolerant to wind a bit tolerant and to fire a bit tolerant.

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Pests and Diseases

Brachycyttara griseus,Sipha flava and Leaf spot,Leave blight,Root rot,Smut diseases.

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Seed Propagation

Seeds are epigeous and can be stored for 4 months. There are approximative 8000000 seeds/kg. The seeds can be propagated as followed: (1) Store harvested seeds dry at room temperature, (3) Seeds germinate above ground (epigeous)

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