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Safed MusliKharifFasciculated root pieces, not true seedUpdated 19 August 2026

RC-36

A Chlorophytum borivilianum (Safed Musli) germplasm selection collected and maintained at Rajasthan Agricultural University (RAU), Udaipur — reported good for yield and saponin content, but not a formally notified variety release the way JS 405 is. Most growers otherwise plant root pieces saved from a previous healthy crop.

SeasonKharif
Maturity periodLeaves wither ~4–4.5 months after planting; roots dug Nov–Jan — the species-level figure; no separate duration is documented for this selection
Expected yield2–3 t/ha fresh root → 400–600 kg/ha dry — the species-level ICAR figure; a Safed Musli variety review reports RC-36 among the Rajasthan Agricultural University (RAU), Udaipur selections found good for yield and saponin content, but gives no separate measured number
Suitable soilWell-drained sandy loam or loam, pH 6.0–8.0

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 separate duration is documented for this selection
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 — the species-level ICAR figure; a Safed Musli variety review reports RC-36 among the Rajasthan Agricultural University (RAU), Udaipur selections found good for yield and saponin content, but gives no separate measured number
Suitable soil
Well-drained sandy loam or loam, pH 6.0–8.0
Release
Germplasm selection · maintained at Rajasthan Agricultural University (RAU), Udaipur — not a formally notified variety release

About this variety

RC-36 is one of several Chlorophytum borivilianum (Safed Musli) germplasm selections — alongside RC-2, RC-16, RC-20, RC-23, RC-37 and CT-1 — collected and maintained at Rajasthan Agricultural University (RAU), Udaipur, Rajasthan. A published review of Safed Musli varieties lists RC-36 among the RAU Udaipur selections found good for yield and saponin content, but this is a secondary review-article summary, not a primary RAU release document this site could read directly, and RAU has not issued a formal variety-release notification for RC-36 the way RVSKVV did for JS 405. Because no distinguishing agronomy is documented for RC-36 itself, the cultivation details below are the same ICAR species-level Safed Musli practice used for every other line — nothing here is calibrated to RC-36 specifically.

Key characteristics

    Plant typeFasciculated root pieces, not true seed
    MaturityLeaves wither ~4–4.5 months after planting; roots dug Nov–Jan — the species-level figure; no separate duration is documented for this selection
    Yield potential2–3 t/ha fresh root → 400–600 kg/ha dry — the species-level ICAR figure; a Safed Musli variety review reports RC-36 among the Rajasthan Agricultural University (RAU), Udaipur selections found good for yield and saponin content, but gives no separate measured number
    Disease resistanceNot documented in available sources
    SoilWell-drained sandy loam or loam, pH 6.0–8.0
    SeasonKharif

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 separate duration is documented for this selection

Expected yield

2–3 t/ha fresh root → 400–600 kg/ha dry — the species-level ICAR figure; a Safed Musli variety review reports RC-36 among the Rajasthan Agricultural University (RAU), Udaipur selections found good for yield and saponin content, but gives no separate measured number

Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.

Pest & disease considerations

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

  • Reported in a published Safed Musli variety review as good for yield and saponin content among germplasm evaluated at RAU Udaipur.
  • Traceable to a named research station rather than unlabelled farm-saved root stock.

Things to consider

  • RAU Udaipur has not issued a formal release notification for this selection — treat the yield/saponin claim as a reported finding from a review article, not an independently verified figure.
  • 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.

  • Rajasthan

Frequently asked questions

What is RC-36?

A Chlorophytum borivilianum (Safed Musli) germplasm selection collected and maintained at Rajasthan Agricultural University (RAU), Udaipur — reported in a published variety review as good for yield and saponin content.

Is RC-36 an officially released variety like JS 405?

No — it is a research-station germplasm selection reported in a variety-review article, not a formally notified release. JS 405 remains the only Safed Musli variety on ICAR-DMAPR's own released-varieties list.

When should I plant RC-36?

On the first or second good rain of the monsoon, typically June–July — the same species-level window as every other Safed Musli line.

How much planting material does RC-36 need per hectare?

600–1,000 kg/ha of fasciculated root pieces, each with at least 5 g of the bud-bearing disc — the species-standard rate, since no rate specific to RC-36 is documented.

Sourced from: ICAR-DMAPR — Crop Production (Safed Musli agronomy). editorial policy.