Gokshura Farming, Cultivation Practices, Planting Guide

Introduction to Gokshura Farming

Today let us discuss Gokshura Farming and planting, and cultivation practices

Gokshura is an herb and also it is a medicinal plant. It is used in the preparation of medicines. It is one of the pure herbs which is used in Ayurvedic medicines. The Gokshura is originated from the genus of Tribulus. Gokshura belongs to the Zygophyllaceae family. The Gokshura is scientifically named Tribulus Terrestris. These herbs are not only used in Ayurvedic medicines, but also in other Indian Medicines like Siddha, Unani, and Kashmiri. In North America, it is an invasive species. It is an herbaceous tap-rooted perennial plant. These are mainly found in Southern Europe, Australia, Africa, India, China, Vietnam, and Southern Asia.

As this is mostly found in the subtropical parts so in India also these Gokshura is found in Punjab, Gujarat, Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttaranchal. This Gokshura herb is also named as Gokharu, Gokhru, Gokhru, Bahukantaka and Chirupalleru.

Characteristics of Gokshura herb:

Plant: Gokshura is one of the Trailing Perennial, Hirsute, branched herb, and a procumbent. The stems and branches of this plant look silky – villous. The stems and the branches grow up to a height of 10 cm.

Leaves: The leaves of this plant are located on the opposite sides usually unequally; the leaves stipulate and also abruptly pinnate. The leaflets of this plant are in 5 – 8 in pairs and the length of the leaflet will be 0.5 -1.3 cm, subequal, oblong to linear, oblong, mucronate, and the petioles are very short and pilose.

Flower: The flower of this plant will be yellow in colour, and they are solitary, has an auxiliary. The diameter of the flower will be 8 – 12 cm. The flower has five petals, five sepals, and then stamens. These flowers will appear in the month of July – August.

Fruit: The fruit of this plant will be short and stout, ovary consists of 5 – 10 lobed and they are celled with 5 – 12. The fruit is globose and spinosus produced in the month of autumn.

Seed: The seed of this plant will be obliquely pendulous and have a hard seed coat on it.

Read this: Ashwagandha Cultivation.

Properties of Gokshura herb:

In Gokshura there is a chemical compound of two alkaloids. These alkaloids are generally caused in a limb paresis in a sheep when the sheep ingest this plant. In dried foliage, there is around 44 mg/kg. Apart from all this, we can also find a phytosterol in Gokshura which is known as hecogenin.

Medicinal Properties of Gokshura herb:

This is sweet in taste.
It is very heavy to digest.
The texture of this Gokshura will be oily
After the digestion the taste gets converse.
It is a coolant.
This can balance three Doshas like Kapha, Vata and Pitta.

Health Benefits of Gokshura herb:

This Gokshura can be used for bodybuilding.
It’s also capable of treating skin ailments.
It also cures heart problems.
It treats the disorder of the prostate gland.
Gokshura helps in improving our brain function.
It is diuretic activity.
This Gokshura can be used as an anti-aging agent.

Varieties of Gokshura:

There are no specific varieties or cultivars of Gokshura.

Soil and Climate requirement of Gokshura Farming:

For Growing Gokshura we can use all kinds of soils, as it can thrive well in all types of soils, right from the clay loam –light sandy loam soils. The high level alkaline soils are not more preferred and also not suitable for Growing Gokshura. The water logging should be avoided in the field.

The climate which is required for growing Gokshura is tropical, sub-tropical, and semiarid climates. They mostly prefer open sun with a warm climate. The rainfall requirement for this crop is also very less.

Land preparation and Planting for Gokshura Farming:

Before sowing the seeds we need to clean the field by removing all the unwanted weeds, pebbles, stone, and the waste material of the previous crop like twigs, roots, stems, etc. Then the land should be ploughed for 2 – 3 times as it attains fine tilth and smooth texture. Followed by ploughing we need to do the tillering and levelling.

The seed should be sown at a spacing of 90 cm * 120 cm per hectare of land. In a hectare of land, we can plant 6000 plants.

Propagation method used in Gokshura Farming:

The propagation of Gokshura is done through seeds; these Gokshura can be raised directly by sowing seeds. For a hectare of and we need 1 – 2 kg – 2 kg of seeds. Before sowing them they should be treated overnight by sowing them for 48 hours in 20 ppm. This process should be done in the month of February – March. For these seeds, the germination period is long they take 30 days for their germination.

Manure and Fertilization method in Gokshura Farming:

At the time of the planting, and land preparation we need to apply 10 tonnes of Farmyard manure to the main field.
When we apply the fertilizers then we should apply N: P: K @ 60:40:40 kg per hectare is more recommended.
The nitrogen should be split into 2 doses, then the first split should be applied basally and the second one should be given to the land after 60 days of the first fertilization.

Irrigation methods in Gokshura Farming:

The crop is mainly rain-fed and the watering should be done during long dry spells.

Intercultural methods of Gokshura Farming:

Weeding: The weeding should be done regularly, as it will also cause pests and diseases to the plants. The weeding can be done manually and also by using chemicals like herbicides or weeding.

Pruning: The unwanted material like twigs, leaves, stems, and branches should be pruned as the plants have some space as this space will penetrate air inside the plant.

Mulching: The weeds which are weeded can be used for mulching as this mulching will help the soil to conserve moisture.

Pest and Diseases control measures in Gokshura Farming:

The crop never gets an attack of significant pests and diseases have been observed in this crop.

Harvesting techniques of Gokshura:

It is one of the long-duration crops. After planting, the plant it takes 240 -250 days in the main field. The seeds get ripen in October when the crop is uprooted. The harvesting can be done by using the Kudali ripen seeds and also the roots. For the preparation of medicines, we need to take the fully ripen seeds and also roots.

Post harvesting techniques of Gokshura herb

Separation: After harvesting the seeds and roots, we need to separate the roots and seeds.

Drying: The roots and seeds should be dried in a shade.

Storage: After they are dried, they should be stored in a shade and the packed material should be kept in a cool–air godown.

Packing: They should be packed in gunny bags and should be handed over to the Godown (Warehouse).

Yield in of Gokshura:

The average yield of the Gokshura from a hectare of land is fresh roots 2,880 kg and when it is dry then it comprises 738 kg.

In case if you are interested in this: How To Grow Organic Lettuce.

5 COMMENTS

Raju Dembla November 24, 2018 At 11:37 am

I am new to agriculture, living in Mumbai, but I want to learn to grow herbs in by balcony. Would like to know about vertical farming too.

- agrifarming December 1, 2018 At 5:31 pm
  
  Check this: Vertical Gardening Ideas, techniques and Tips.
  
Dr. Shriniwas October 31, 2019 At 5:40 pm

Hi Mr Reddy,

I would like to know where from I get authenticate goksura seeds?

Thank you for your information in advance.

PapiReddy December 13, 2020 At 8:20 pm

Nice to meet you Reddy garu, why don’t you give me your email address,where can I meet you in person.

Dr M Z Khan December 15, 2022 At 5:23 pm

Kindly let me know the rate of gokhru seeds price and min quantity I can get