Kushal
CSIR-CIMAP menthol mint for late (April) transplanting, a tissue-culture somaclone of Himalaya (patent priority March 2003); about 77–78% menthol; tolerates waterlogging during sucker production; among the most stable oil yielders in multi-year trials.
Quick facts
- Type
- Sucker (improved variety)
- Season
- Zaid / summer
- Maturity period
- About 120 days
- Seed rate
- About 400–450 kg of fresh suckers per hectare (roughly 160–180 kg per acre)
- Expected yield
- Higher biomass and menthol yield than Kosi and Saksham when transplanted in April (breeder's trial)
- Suitable soil
- Well-drained, organic-matter-rich loam or sandy loam
- Release
- Developed by CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow — US plant patent priority 31 March 2003, published May 2006 (announced in a 2003 CIMAP newsletter)
About this variety
Kushal is a CSIR-CIMAP menthol mint (Mentha arvensis) developed for late planting. It came from screening tissue-culture-derived plants (somaclones) of the older variety Himalaya, chosen for fast establishment from shoot cuttings; the US plant patent claims priority from 31 March 2003. The oil carries about 77–78% menthol at 0.7–0.9% oil content. In the breeder's trial, when transplanted in April — the time a field becomes free after the rabi harvest — it out-performed Kosi and Saksham in both biomass and menthol yield. It also tolerates waterlogging while suckers are being multiplied. It is propagated by suckers and matures in about 120 days. In multi-year comparisons Kushal, Kosi and CIMAP-Saryu gave the most stable oil yield across seasons.
Key characteristics
Sowing & cultivation
- Sowing timeLate planting — after rabi crops are harvested, up to April
- Seed rateAbout 400–450 kg of fresh suckers per hectare (roughly 160–180 kg per acre)
- SpacingRows 45–60 cm apart, suckers laid end to end (about 10 cm apart) in furrows 5–6 cm deep
- Sowing methodLay fresh, healthy suckers in moist furrows, cover lightly with soil and irrigate at once
- IrrigationA light irrigation at planting and a week later, then about every 10–12 days through the summer (roughly ten irrigations); stop about a week before each cut
- FertilizerAbout 120 kg N, 60 kg P₂O₅ and 40 kg K₂O per hectare with about 20 t FYM, the nitrogen split over three to four doses including one right after the first cut (NHB mint package)
- HarvestingMatures in about 120 days; cut on a sunny day and distil promptly
Soil & climate
Soil
- Suitable soil
- Well-drained loam or sandy loam rich in organic matter, pH about 6–8.2
- Irrigation
- Good drainage is essential — water must never stand around the suckers and stolons
Climate
- Maturity
- About 20–40°C through the growing period
- Irrigation
- Light rain at planting and dry, sunny weather at harvest; largely an irrigated crop in the plains
Yield & maturity
Maturity period
About 120 days
Expected yield
Higher biomass and menthol yield than Kosi and Saksham when transplanted in April (breeder's trial)
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
Pest & disease considerations
Management notes
- Plant fresh, healthy suckers dipped in a recommended fungicide, and renew planting stock every couple of years.
- Keep the crop weed-free from about 4 to 14 weeks after planting — nutsedge is the worst weed.
- Cut on a bright, sunny day and distil the same or next day; give nitrogen and water straight after the first cut.
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Built for April planting after the rabi harvest — beat Kosi and Saksham when planted late
- Tolerates waterlogging while suckers are being multiplied
- Among the most stable oil yielders across years and sites
Things to consider
- Takes about 120 days — a longer wait for the first cut than the early types
- The late-planting advantage is from the breeder's trial; it is not the variety for a normal February planting
- Confirm genuine planting material with CIMAP or a KVK before buying
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Uttar Pradesh
- Bihar
- Punjab
- Haryana
Frequently asked questions
When is Kushal the right choice?
When you can only plant late — for example in April, after a rabi crop is harvested. In the breeder's trial, Kushal transplanted in April out-performed Kosi and Saksham in biomass and menthol yield.
How is Kushal multiplied?
Vegetatively, by suckers (underground stems), like all menthol mint varieties. There is no seed, so buy or raise fresh, healthy suckers of the true variety.
Sourced from: CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow, CSIR Aroma Mission, National Horticulture Board — Mint. editorial policy.