Indian Journal of Agronomy

Indian pennywort or mandukaparni [Centella asiatica (L.) Urban] containing four triterpenes; asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic acid and madecassic acid as principal bioactive phytochemicals, is an important medicinal crop and valued as brain tonic worldwide. An experiment was conducted during 2012–14 at Anand, Gujarat, to investigate the effects of harvest time of main crop of mandukaparni as well as ratoon on herbage yield, and triterpenes content and yield. Significantly higher leaf area was found at the first harvesting of main crop at 6 months (21.9 cm²/leaf) and ratoon harvesting at 4 months (22.1 cm²/leaf), whereas leaves/node were found markedly higher at 4 months of first harvest (MFH) (11.3) and 2 months of ratoon harvest (MRH) (11). The first harvesting of the main crop at 5 months and ratoon harvesting at 4 months recorded markedly higher dry herbage yield (1, 404 kg/ha), being higher by 54.8% over 4 MFH and 2 MRH. The highest triterpenes content were recorded at the first as well as ratoon harvesting at 4 months (2%) and increased by 42.8% over 4 MFH and 2 MRH. The triterpenes yield was markedly higher at the first harvesting of main crop at 5 months and ratoon harvesting at 4 months (26.7 kg/ha), which was 107% higher over 4 MFH and 2 MRH. Thus, mandukaparni should be harvested first at 5 months after planting and ratoon at 4 months interval for the production of maximum herbage and phytochemicals on unit area basis under commercial cultivation.