Article: AGRO TECHNIQUES OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN SURAPALA’S VRIKSHAYURVEDA: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES

Article Category: Review articles

DOI: 10.7897/2277-4343.164146

Pages: 145-148

Author: Jyoti *, Monika, Arya Lakshmi Marisetti, Subash Sahu, Divya

Abstract: The growing global interest in holistic healthcare and organic commodities highlights the need to reassess traditional agricultural practices. Nowadays, contemporary agricultural methods, which rely largely on chemicals, supplanted the old farming practices. They pose a serious threat to human and environmental health, thus organic agro-techniques for medicinal plants cultivation are required. Study reviews experimental research on agro-techniques delineated in Surapala's Vrikshayurveda (Science of plant life), focusing on their application in the organic cultivation of medicinal plants. Vrikshayurveda is a traditional Indian system of farming aiming at ecologically friendly cultivation and conservation of plants. A thorough examination of literature across multiple databases identified 13 pertinent studies, which collectively highlighted two traditional agro-techniques: Poshan Vidhi (nutrient application using kunapajala) and Bijopti Vidhi (seed pre-treatment). Findings indicate that kunapajala (nutrient media for plants) enhances plant physiological parameters such as leaf area, chlorophyll content, and nutrient uptake, while seed pre-treatment methods improve germination rates and seedling vigor. Although the outcomes are promising, the limited scope of current research highlights the necessity for more rigorous scientific validation and broader application of age-old agro-techniques.

Keyword: Kunapajala, Seeds pre-treatment, Organic cultivation, Bijopti vidhi, Traditional cultivation