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Aloe vera

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INTRODUCTION Aloe vera  belongs to the family Liliacae and is mainly cultivated for its thick fleshy leaves from which the yellow resinous latex or yellow sap or anthraquinones (the bitter yellow liquid between the leaf rind and gel) exudes and can be used as a laxative or purgative. If it is not processed properly it turned out to be poisonous. Nearly there are about 150 species in Aloe vera and these species belong to the succulent family like any other lilies or onions. In India Aloe Vera has been referred to as "kumari’ in Ayurvedic treatments where it was popularly used to treat the sore eyes, abrasions and wounds. ORIGIN African Continent SPREAD Aloe is grown largely in South Texas, USA, Mexico, India, South America, Central America, Australia and Africa. FAMILY Liliaceae COMMONLY CALLED AS Miracle plant, Healing plant, Plant of immortality, Fountain of youth. COMMON VARIETIES 1.    Aloe Barbadensis Miller, 2.    Aloe Saponaria

Cultivation Process of Aloe vera

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Soil Aloe Vera  can be cultivated on any soil for 'dry land management', sandy loamy soil is the best suited for it. Propagation Aloe Vera  is generally propagated by root suckers by carefully digging out without damaging the parent plant and planting it in the main field. It can also be propagated through rhizome cuttings by digging out the rhizomes after the harvest of the crop and making them into 5-6 cm length cuttings with a minimum of 2-3 nodes on them. Then they are rooted in specially prepared sand beds or containers. The plant is ready for transplanting after the appearance of the first sprouts. The process of cultivating Aloe Vera involves the following process: The ground is to be carefully prepared to keep free from weeds and the soil is ideally kept ideally slightly acidic. The soil should be supplied supplement in the form of ammonium nitrate every year. Normally a spacing of 40cm x 45cm or 60cm x 30cm is followed aloe pop would take about 18 -