EXPERIMENTS DONE USING VRKSHAYURVEDA TECHNIQUES
1. Enhancement of the Growth and Flowering in Impatiens Sultanii (Balsam Plant)
Conducted by
Final year B.Sc. (Botany) students. Twelve students of Stella Maris College, Chennai, under the guidance of Mrs. Usha Krishnan, Senior Lecturer, Stella Maris College, Chennai; Vaidya K.M. Shyamsunder and Dr. K. Vijayalakshmi of Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems, Chennai, during the period 1993-94.
Objective
To test the effect of the application of a decoction mentioned in Surapala's Vrkshayurveda in enhancing the growth and flowering in Balsam (Impatiens sultanii).
Methodology
A decoction of Barley, Black gram, Green gram, Horse gram and Sesame was prepared. Balsam seeds were sown in five pots of average size. Pot-I was used as control, Pot-II had seeds soaked in the decoction, Pot-III had the seeds treated with the decoction in the germination stage, Pot-IV in the vegetative stage and Pot-V in the flowering stage.
Result
Response to the decoction was found favourable in all the three stages of application i.e. germinative, vegetative and flowering stages. Maximum response was found in the vegetative stage. The plants showed luxuriant vegetative growth. The number of buds was more compared to the control, and the size of the flowers were larger.
Comment
The use of the above mentioned ingredients can be rationalised from the Ayurvedic view point because these substances possess brimhaniya (bulk promoting) and jeevaniya (vitalising) properties and thereby facilitate good growth.
2. Control of Mango Leaf Webber by a Traditional Technique
Conducted by
Vaidya K.M. Shyam Sundar and Dr. N. Raja of Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems, Chennai under the supervision of Sri. Arjun Gopalarathinam, Garden Superintendent of the Theosophical Society, Chennai, during the period February - March 1995.
Background
The Theosophical Society in Chennai is situated in a stretch of 400 acres along the estuary of the Adayar river. In February 1995 over 50 mango trees in the campus were affected badly by a pest attack. The Garden Superintendent approached CIKS for help to solve the problem using natural products. The pest was identified as Mango Leaf Webber.
Methodology
A mixture of 2.5% each of Neem and Karanja (Derris indica) and Pungam oil (Pongamia pinnata) each was mixed in soap solution and sprayed thrice at an interval of 10 days. Fumigation was done with the powders of seeds of Vidanga (Embelia) and Kasturi manjal (Curcuma aromatica) mixed in the ratio 4:1, three times at an interval of 10 days each.
Result
The pest was controlled to a great extent. The trees flowered again and put forth excellent leaves and the yield of fruits was also good.
Comment
Neem, Pungam Embelia ribes are well known in the Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia for their anti-helminthic properties.
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