Jawahar Asgand-134 (JA-134)
The newer of the two Ashwagandha varieties on ICAR-DMAPR's official released-varieties list — released 1998 by JNKVV, Mandsaur, sharing JA-20's short-statured, high-density profile.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Ashwagandha
- Type
- Open-pollinated
- Season
- Kharif
- Maturity period
- ~180 days to root maturity
- Seed rate
- 5–12 kg/ha for direct broadcast sowing (2–5 kg/acre); a nursery raised for transplanting needs only about 5 kg/ha of seed — the species-standard rate
- Expected yield
- Total withanolide content of about 0.30% in dry root — the figure government cultivation notes cite for this line; no separate root-yield figure is documented for JA-134 alone beyond the species-level 400–500 kg/ha
- Suitable soil
- Sandy loam or light red soil, pH 7.5–8.0
- Release
- Released 1998 · JNKVV, Mandsaur (Madhya Pradesh)
About this variety
Jawahar Asgand-134 (JA-134) was released in 1998 by Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya (JNKVV) at Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh — nine years after JA-20 from the same institute, and the second of the two Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) varieties on ICAR-DMAPR's own official released-varieties table. Government cultivation notes group JA-134 with JA-20 as a high-alkaloid, short-statured line bred for high-density planting, reaching root maturity in about 180 days with a total withanolide content of roughly 0.30% in dry root. The official release record does not document a yield or disease-resistance advantage over JA-20, so the agronomy below is the species-level Ashwagandha practice, not a figure specific to JA-134.
Key characteristics
Sowing & cultivation
- Sowing timeDirect sowing: second week of July, once pre-monsoon showers have given a fine tilth. Nursery sowing: just before monsoon onset, transplanted 5–6 weeks later.
- Seed rate5–12 kg/ha for direct broadcast sowing (2–5 kg/acre); a nursery raised for transplanting needs only about 5 kg/ha of seed — the species-standard rate
- Spacing60×60 cm for a transplanted crop; a direct-sown stand is thinned at 25–30 days to about 20,000–25,000 plants/ha — high-density planting is what this JNKVV line was bred for
- Sowing methodBroadcast directly into the field, or raise seedlings in a nursery bed and transplant into 60 cm furrows once 5–6 weeks old
- IrrigationLittle to none if the monsoon is on schedule; a life-saving irrigation only on a genuine dry spell — the crop wants a dry finish as the roots mature
- FertilizerNone, by design — the crop runs on the residual fertility of a previous well-manured crop; on genuinely poor soil, a modest 20:20:0 kg N:P:K/ha is sometimes applied basal, with a lower plant population to compensate
- HarvestingRoots mature about 180 days after sowing. Harvest January–March once the leaves have dried and the berries have turned yellow-red — uproot the whole plant, cut the stem 1–2 cm above the crown, and cut the roots into 7–10 cm pieces for sun-drying.
Soil & climate
Soil
- Suitable soil
- Sandy loam or light red soil — often deliberately the marginal, non-irrigated land on a holding rather than the best-watered field
- Irrigation
- Must drain freely — standing water rots the root and collar, the single biggest disease risk this crop carries
Climate
- Climate
- 20–35°C, 500–750 mm rainfall — sown to catch the tail of the monsoon and finished dry
Yield & maturity
Maturity period
~180 days to root maturity
Expected yield
Total withanolide content of about 0.30% in dry root — the figure government cultivation notes cite for this line; no separate root-yield figure is documented for JA-134 alone beyond the species-level 400–500 kg/ha
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
Pest & disease considerations
Major diseases
Management notes
- Government cultivation notes name stem borer and mites as the main pests — a fenvalerate spray (Sumicidin, ~10 ml/litre) for the borer and a neem seed kernel extract for mites are the standard responses.
- A single hand-weeding at 25–30 days after sowing/transplanting is usually enough.
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- One of only two Ashwagandha varieties with an official ICAR-DMAPR release record.
- The more recent of the two JNKVV releases, bred for the same high-density planting as JA-20.
Things to consider
- The official release record does not document a yield or disease-resistance edge over JA-20 — the two are agronomically treated as siblings from the same breeding programme.
- Like all Ashwagandha, the crop is sold on quality and grade directly to drug-market buyers, with no MSP and no mandi-style open market.
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Madhya Pradesh
Frequently asked questions
What is JA-134?
An Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) variety released in 1998 by JNKVV, Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh — the second of only two Ashwagandha varieties on ICAR-DMAPR's own official released-varieties list.
Should I choose JA-134 or JA-20?
The official record does not document a yield or disease-resistance difference between them — both share the same short-statured, high-density, high-alkaloid profile from the same JNKVV programme. Availability from your source is usually the deciding factor.
When should I sow JA-134?
The same window as every Ashwagandha line: direct sowing in the second week of July once pre-monsoon showers have given a fine tilth, or a nursery sown a little earlier for transplanting 5–6 weeks later.
Sourced from: ICAR-DMAPR — Crop Improvement (Released Varieties table), Odisha SMPB — Standard Cultivation Procedure for Ashwagandha. editorial policy.