Cultivation Artemisia annua

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Prepare the plot for transplanting at the same time as the seedbed. These operations are labor intensive and can be time consuming. They should be done about 2 months before planting.

1
Fence off

if possible, the growing area to avoid damage from wandering animals.

Cattle should not be allowed to enter the growing area [1].

2
Clear, harrow and surface plough

only if necessary. Avoid slash-and-burn agriculture which destroys soil life!

3
Rake

to remove stones and weeds.

4
Apply organic fertilisers

if the soil is poor (see AGRISUD Guide [3] p 97 to 103 - Organic manure).

5
Hoe

to loosen the soil and form cultivation beds or ridges as appropriate.

6
Dig furrows

(drainage channels) to drain the soil if the crop is grown in the rainy season.

Transplanting

1
Make a hole

approximately one hand deep (approx 20 cm, depending on the roots).

2
Water the hole

generously to loosen the soil and facilitate transplanting and recovery of young plants (in an intensive cultivation system with irrigation, irrigate the plot for 4 hours, about 15mm).

3
Crumble the soil

to remove any lumps and mix in a large handful of compost (approx 200 g).

4
Water

the seedbed to loosen the soil before removing the plants.

2
Transplant

the seedling, keeping a clod of earth around the roots!

3
Apply

2 large handfuls of compost in a circle around each plant to promote lateral root growth

IMPORTANT: Do not cover the leaves to avoid the risk of burning!

Nutrient inputs differ according to the type of compost. Compost made with poultry droppings provides about 3 times more nitrogen than compost made with donkey manure, cattle manure, pig manure or green waste. Triple doses of non-poultry manure compost!

Bibliography:

1. World Health Organisation. WHO monograph on good agricultural and collection practices (GACP) for Artemisia annua L. 2006.
http://www.who.int/malaria/publications/atoz/9241594438/en/

2. Sougnez A. Étude des principaux facteurs de la production de l’armoise annuelle (Artemisia annua L.) sur le domaine de l’organisation « Le Relais – Sénégal) : Effet de la densité et de la fertilisation. Master’s thesis bioengineer in agronomic sciences, under the supervision of Pr. Guy Mergeai, Gembloux, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech (ULiège). 2017. (Study of the main factors in the production of annual mugwort (Artemisia annua L.) in the field at “Le Relais – Senegal: Effect of density and fertilisation).

3. AGRISUD. L’agroécologie en pratiques – GUIDE édition 2020. 2020. (Agroecology best practices)
http://www.agrisud.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Agrisud_Guide_Agroecologie_2020.pdf

4. Guidigan D. Effet de l’urée et de l’étêtage sur la production de phytomasse et le développement phénologique de l’Artemisia annua Anamed au Sud Bénin : Cas de la ferme d’application et de production de la FSA sise à Sékou. Master’s thesis presented for the professional bachelor’s degree in agronomic sciences, option Aménagement et Gestion des Forêts et Parcours Naturels (AGFPN), under the supervision of Dr. Ir. Oscar TEKA, Université d’Abomey-Calavi. 2016. (Effect of urea and topping on phytomass production and phenological development of Artemisia annua Anamed in South Benin).
https://valtramed.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/memoire%20Darling.pdf