davanam cultivation

7/27/2019 Davanam Cultivation

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DAVANAM ( Artemisia pallens)

S ESWARA REDDYINTRODUCTION

Davana Oil is one of the

important essential oils. Essential

oils obtained from higher plants

are important raw materials used

for the manufacture of perfumes,

flavours and cosmetics. Evenwith considerable development

in production of synthetic

perfumery and flavouring

chemicals, essential oils continue

to be the important raw materials

for these industries through out

the world. The general realisation

of health hazards associated withthe synthetic material has led to

increased use of natural raw

materials, especially for high

grade perfumes and flavours.

Such natural raw material should

be more important for future

industrial development in the

third world, as production ofthese materials does not depend

upon the traditional sources of

energy, like petroleum or coal,

but the oils are obtained from

renewable energy sources.

In view of its wide variety of

climate and soil, India is one of

the few countries in the world,

where all the major essential oils

used in perfumery, cosmetics or

flavour industries can be

produced in one or the otherregions of the country.

There are around 2000 species of

medicinal and aromatic plans that

have been reported in India.

The botanical name of Davana is

Artemisia pallens. It is known as

Davanam in Telugu andKannada.

During the last decade, the

essential oils from leaves and

flavours of Artemisia have

received much commercial

attention due to their use in the

perfumery and in medicine.

PROPERTIES

Oil of Davana is a brownish,

viscous liquid of peculiar, very

aromatic, some what balsamic


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and persistant odour. Freshly

distilled oil has sharp and herbal

top notes. This disappears on

keeping, leaving a mellow

pleasant note.

Specific gravity 15.5 deg.C-

0.9605

Refractive index - 1.488

Devaone, a sesquitepene ketone,

is the main component of the oil

of Davana. Linalool, dehydro-a-linalool, terpinen-4 oil,

nordavanone and davanafurans

have been isolated in a fraction

of Davana oil. These compounds

are reported to contribute to the

characteristic odour of Davanaoil.

SPECIFICATION

Indian Standard Institutions has

not prescribed any specification

for Davana oil. However, the

range of some values obtained by

the analysis of a recent sample of

Davana oil in CIMAP Laboratory

are given below.

Range in physicochemical

characteristics of Davana oil

produced in South India.

Colour : Clear, brownish yellowliquid

Odour : Very rich lingering fruity

odour

Refractive index : 1.4794 to1.4917 at 25 deg. C

Specific gravity : 0.9394 to0.9560 at 25 deg.C

Acid Value : Less than 3.5

Ester value : 31.5 to 46.5

Solubility : Clearly soluble in

less than

1.5 volumes of 80% ethyl alcohol

Total ketone content: 36 to 56%

expressed as davanone

Free davanone as per GC: 25 to

52.5%.

APPLICATIONS

Oil of Davana is used in

expensive perfume compositions:

It is also being used forflavouring cakes, pastries,

tobacco and some of the costly

beverages. The level of use of

Davana oil is on the lower side


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due to the prevailing high pricefor Davan oil.

Artemisia-pallens is an annual,

aromatic, south Indian plant,specially found around Mysore

city. It is also cultivated in the

neighborhood of Pune.

It generally grows in the

neighbor hood of sandalwood

trees. This herb is prized for its

fruity fragrance and forms an

important component in garland,

bouquets and floral decorations.

The springs of Davana provide

an element of freshness and a

rich sumptuousness odour. The

herb is very valuable for its

essential, Davana oil.

PROCESS OFCULTIVATION

Davana is mostly cultivated in

the red soil regions in South

India. It comes up very well in

rich loamy soils. Considerable

care is necessary in the

cultivation and harvesting the

crop.

Davana is an annual herb, family

compositor, requiring about four

months to reach maturity, at

which it attains a height of about

1 1/2 feet. According to the

research findings, two distinct

varieties of the plant occur. This

fact is of considerable

importance in the production ofDavana oil.

Season is not an important

criteria when Davana is grown

for use in garlands and bouquets.

In this case, the crop is pulled out

when it is about two months old.

On the other hand, season is veryimportant when the crop is

grown for production of oil. The

crop is allowed to grow until it

flowers, which take about 4

months from sowing. It is grown

as a short term crop from

November to February/March

and as a ratoon crop extending up

to April/May. A few lightshowers in the season, bright

sunshine, a crisp winter with no

first and heavy morning dew, all

contribute to a good crop. The

crop does not withstand heavy

rains. Particularly, when the crop

is blooming and is getting ready

for harvest, cloudy weather orrain could substantially affect the

oil yield.

Total yield of fresh herbage from

the main crop and the ratoon crop


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is about 14 tonnes per hectare,

which on shade drying and

distillation yields about 10 kg. of

Davana oil. Appropriate maturity

of the crop and proper shadedrying of the herbage are

important factors affecting the

quality and yield of the oil.

In large scale distillation, an

average yield of 32% from a

material dried for about 2 days

may be considered satisfactory.Oil content in davana is

maximum in the flower head and

is much less in the leaf and stem.

At the time of harvesting, flower

heads contribute nearly 45% of

the total weight of the plant

material, while it is only about

30% in the ratoon crop.

DEMAND SUPPLY

The present country's production

of Davana oil is estimated to be

around 750 to 900 kg \ per

annum. A few number of units

produce Davana oil in the

country to meet the

requirements.In India, Davana oil

has not attained popularity

because of its high price.

Nevertheless USA, Europe,

Japan are showing increasinginterest for use in

perfumes, cakes, pastries,

tobacco and also a few of thecostly beverages.

Considering the fact the Davana

crop could be cultivated only in

tropical countries in specific

seasonal conditions, it could be

an attractive export oriented

project.

PRICE LEVEL

The prevailing price level for the

product in the market is in the

region of Rs10,000 - Rs.20,000

per kg. A plant production of

Davana oil of 22.5 kgs require

2.25 hectares of land, in whichthe production of Davana crop

would be around 31.5 tonnes.

davanam cultivation

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