🧴 Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is a commercial medicinal succulent grown for leaf gel and bitter latex fractions used in cosmetic, nutraceutical, and pharma industries.

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Crop Profile and Products

Aloe barbadensis (syn. Aloe vera) is the primary cultivated species.

Two major products:

• Bitter latex fraction with aloin and related anthra compounds.
• Inner leaf gel used for skin-care and wellness formulations.

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Climate and Soil

Aloe adapts to warm dry to semi-humid climates and performs in varied soils if drainage is good.

Best conditions:

• Light to medium-textured soils.
• Avoid waterlogging and prolonged stagnation.

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Propagation and Planting

Commercially propagated by root suckers/rhizome segments.

Common planting guidance:

• Spacing near 60 x 30 cm or 60 x 45 cm.
• Use healthy, disease-free propagules.
• Irrigate immediately after planting for establishment.

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Crop Management

• Moderate nutrient input with FYM and balanced fertilizers.
• Irrigate based on moisture need; usually limited annual irrigations are sufficient.
• Maintain weed-free basins.
• Avoid excess moisture around root zone.

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Harvesting and Yield

First commercial harvest can begin around 8 months after planting, followed by ratoon-like productivity from remaining rhizome system for multiple seasons.

Fresh leaf yields are high under good management and processing proximity is important for gel quality.

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Summary Cheat Sheet

Topic	Exam Key Point
Scientific name	Aloe barbadensis / Aloe vera
Family	Liliaceae (older texts) / Asphodelaceae (modern)
Economic part	Leaf (gel and latex fractions)
Key compound	Aloin
Propagation	Suckers/rhizome cuttings
First harvest	~8 months

References

2 sources • [1] [2]

[1]

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

Official

[2]

National Horticulture Board

Official