Growth and oil production of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) in the Ord Irrigation Area, Western Australia

Abstract

Experiments with irrigated lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) have shown that high oil yields can be obtained in the Ord Irrigation area, Western Australia. The highest oil yield of 419 1 ha-1 over a 360 day period was obtained when the plants were cut at 60 day intervals and at a height of 20 cm. Longer intervals and higher cutting heights gave lower oil yields, although in some cases, fresh and dry matter yields were increased. Studies on the effect of water stress showed that time between irrigations in the dry season should not be more than ten days if oil yields are to be maintained. Wilting of cut lemongrass in the dry season was shown to result in a loss of oil, with losses increasing with the duration of wilting up to 11 hours. Under irrigated conditions, lemongrass removed large quantities of nutrients, particularly potassium. Over the 360 day period, maximum amounts of N, P and K removed were 186, 26 and 384 kg ha-1 respectively.