MDB-14
A farm-developed Safed Musli line from Maa Danteshwari Herbal Farm & Research Centre, Chikhalputi, Kondagaon (Chhattisgarh) — a private company, not an ICAR institute or state agricultural university. Its yield, disease-resistance and saponin claims come from the developer's own description and are not independently verified. Most growers otherwise plant root pieces saved from a previous healthy crop.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Safed Musli
- Type
- Fasciculated root pieces, not true seed
- Season
- Kharif
- Maturity period
- Leaves wither ~4–4.5 months after planting; roots dug Nov–Jan — the species-level figure; no independently verified duration is documented for this line
- Seed rate
- 600–1,000 kg/ha of fasciculated root pieces (fingers with a bud-bearing disc, ≥5 g each) — the rate varies with spacing; this is the species-standard rate, not adjusted specifically for this selection
- Expected yield
- 2–3 t/ha fresh root → 400–600 kg/ha dry is the species-level ICAR figure; the developing centre describes MDB-14 itself as high-yielding, but that is the private developer's own claim, not an independently verified measurement
- Suitable soil
- Well-drained sandy loam or loam, pH 6.0–8.0
- Release
- Farm-developed line · Maa Danteshwari Herbal Farm & Research Centre, Chikhalputi, Kondagaon (Chhattisgarh) — not an ICAR/state-university release
About this variety
MDB-14 is a Safed Musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum) line developed on-farm by Maa Danteshwari Herbal Farm & Research Centre at Chikhalputi, Kondagaon, in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh — a private company (part of the Maa Danteshwari Herbal Group), not an ICAR institute or state agricultural university. The developing centre describes MDB-14 as a high-yielding line with disease/fungal resistance and high saponin and alkaloid content; this site could not independently verify those figures against a government source, so they are reported here as the developer's own description, not a confirmed measurement, and MDB-14 carries no ICAR or state-university variety-release notification the way JS 405 does. Because no independently verified agronomy is documented for MDB-14 itself, the cultivation details below are the ICAR species-level Safed Musli practice, the same as every other Safed Musli line.
Key characteristics
Sowing & cultivation
- Sowing timeThe first or second good rain of the monsoon, typically June–July
- Seed rate600–1,000 kg/ha of fasciculated root pieces (fingers with a bud-bearing disc, ≥5 g each) — the rate varies with spacing; this is the species-standard rate, not adjusted specifically for this selection
- Spacing30 cm row-to-row × 10–15 cm plant-to-plant on ridges or raised beds — about 3.33 lakh plants/ha
- Sowing methodPlant sprouted root pieces on ridges or raised beds; heavier soils or high-rainfall areas need ridges for drainage
- IrrigationLittle to none if the monsoon is on schedule; about 6–8 irrigations at 10–15 day intervals if the monsoon fails or there is a long dry gap, continuing even after the leaves start to fall
- Fertilizer10–15 t/ha well-rotted FYM at land preparation, plus an overall 50:40:40 kg N:P:K per hectare — the species-standard dose ICAR cites for a good root yield
- HarvestingLeaves start withering about 4–4.5 months after planting. For sale as raw drug material, dig November–January once fully mature; if the roots are being kept as next season's planting stock, they can be left in the ground until March–April
Soil & climate
Soil
- Suitable soil
- Well-drained sandy loam or loam, rich in organic matter and porous enough for the fasciculated roots to expand freely
- Irrigation
- Must drain well — waterlogging damages the tubers and invites root/collar rot, which is why ridges or raised beds are used in higher-rainfall areas
Climate
- Climate
- 30–35°C day temperature, 500–1,500 mm rainfall, up to about 1,500 m altitude — it is planted to catch the monsoon and grows mostly on the rain that falls through the season
Yield & maturity
Maturity period
Leaves wither ~4–4.5 months after planting; roots dug Nov–Jan — the species-level figure; no independently verified duration is documented for this line
Expected yield
2–3 t/ha fresh root → 400–600 kg/ha dry is the species-level ICAR figure; the developing centre describes MDB-14 itself as high-yielding, but that is the private developer's own claim, not an independently verified measurement
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
Pest & disease considerations
Major diseases
Management notes
- ICAR's own production note states that no serious diseases or pests have so far been reported on Safed Musli beyond an occasional leaf-eating caterpillar and leaf blight in wet weather — good drainage and healthy planting material prevent most of the trouble this crop sees.
- Nip off every flower spike as it appears through the season — this single practice can raise fasciculated-root yield by around a third.
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Described by its developer as high-yielding with disease/fungal resistance and high saponin and alkaloid content.
- Developed within the Bastar/Chhattisgarh growing belt, useful if sourcing planting material regionally.
Things to consider
- This is a private company's own farm-developed line, not an ICAR- or state-university-released variety — its yield, disease-resistance and saponin claims come from the developer's own description and have not been independently verified against a government source; confirm locally (e.g. with your KVK) before relying on them.
- Like all Safed Musli, 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.
- Chhattisgarh
Frequently asked questions
What is MDB-14?
A Safed Musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum) line developed on-farm by Maa Danteshwari Herbal Farm & Research Centre, Chikhalputi, Kondagaon (Chhattisgarh) — a private company, not a government breeding programme.
Is MDB-14 an ICAR-released variety?
No — it is a private company's own farm-developed line with no ICAR or state-university variety-release notification. JS 405 remains the only Safed Musli variety on ICAR-DMAPR's own released-varieties list.
When should I plant MDB-14?
On the first or second good rain of the monsoon, typically June–July — the same species-level window as every other Safed Musli line.
Should I trust the yield and disease-resistance claims made for MDB-14?
Treat them as the developer's own description, not an independently verified figure — there is no ICAR or state-university trial data behind them that this site could confirm. Check with your local KVK before relying on them for a planting decision.
Sourced from: ICAR-DMAPR — Crop Production (Safed Musli agronomy). editorial policy.