Lemongrass

Cymbopogon citratus

herb

Summer

Export Crop

Lemongrass is a fast-growing, drought-tolerant aromatic grass with significant commercial value in Zimbabwe's essential oil, culinary, and medicinal markets. It is one of the easiest high-value crops to establish, requiring minimal inputs while producing multiple harvests per year. Lemongrass essential oil (citral content 70-85%) commands strong export prices, and the fresh stalks are increasingly demanded by restaurants, herbal tea producers, and direct consumers.

Days to Maturity

20-40 tonnes/ha fresh biomass; 100-200 kg/ha essential oil

Typical Yield

Moderate

Water Need

High

Drought Tolerance

Soil Requirements

Optimal Soil Types

Sandy loam

Loamy

Clay loam

Well-drained

pH Range: 5 – 8

Lemongrass is highly adaptable to a wide range of soil types. It performs best in well-drained, moderately fertile loamy soils. It tolerates poor soils but responds well to organic matter additions. Avoid permanently waterlogged soils. Good drainage prevents root diseases. The plant actually improves soil structure over time through its dense root system.

Fertilizer: Apply 200 kg/ha Compound C at planting. Top dress with 150 kg/ha Ammonium Nitrate at 6 weeks and after each harvest. Annual application of Nutrich Vermicompost (3-5 tonnes/ha) dramatically improves oil yield and citral content. Foliar spray with potassium silicate improves stress tolerance and oil gland density. Nitrogen drives biomass while potassium drives oil quality.

Climate Requirements

Optimal Temp: 22-30°C

Rainfall: 700–2500mm/year

Climate Zones

High rainfall

Moderate

Semi-arid

Lemongrass is drought tolerant once established but irrigation during dry season significantly increases biomass yield and oil content. Apply 20-25 mm per week during dry season. Drip or furrow irrigation suitable. Withhold irrigation 1-2 weeks before harvest to concentrate essential oil. Established plants can survive 3-4 months without irrigation.

Current Weather for Lemongrass

Temperature (14°C) is below optimal range for Lemongrass (22-30°C°C).

14°C

clear sky

Manicaland

47%

Humidity

km/h Wind

14–14°C

Min / Max Today

5-Day Forecast

Fri

14°

Sat

25°

8°

Sun

29°

10°

Mon

30°

13°

Tue

30°

12°

Lemongrass optimal climate: Temp: 22-30°C°C · Rainfall: 700–2500mm/yr

Planting & Harvesting

Planting Months

Feb

Mar

Sep

Oct

Nov

Harvesting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Planting Depth: 5-8 cm (slips/tillers)

Spacing: 60 cm x 60 cm (27,778 plants/ha) or 75 cm x 60 cm

Material: Stem slips/tillers (divided clumps from established plants), or rooted cuttings from certified nurseries

Suitable Provinces & Regions

Provinces

Mashonaland East

Mashonaland West

Mashonaland Central

Manicaland

Midlands

Matabeleland North

Natural Regions

Region I

Region II

Region III

Region IV

Common Pests

Stem Borer (Chilo species)

Medium

Symptoms: Dead hearts in young tillers, frass in stems, reduced tiller production, plant stunting

Management: Spray Chlorpyrifos or Carbofuran granules at planting. Monitor for dead hearts. Keep field clean of dead material.

Armyworms (Spodoptera frugiperda)

Medium

Symptoms: Defoliation, ragged edges on leaves, frass deposits, rapid destruction of young crop

Management: Spray Chlorpyrifos 1 L/ha or Emamectin benzoate at first sign. Early morning scouting when larvae are active.

Grasshoppers

Low

Symptoms: Leaf edge feeding, defoliation in large populations, reduced biomass yield

Management: Spray Malathion during outbreaks. Early planting ahead of grasshopper season. Natural recovery is rapid.

Thrips (Thrips species)

Low

Symptoms: Silvery streaking on leaves, reduced photosynthesis, quality downgrade for fresh market

Management: Spray Abamectin or Spinosad. Adequate irrigation reduces thrips pressure. Reflective mulch as deterrent.

Common Diseases

Leaf Blight (Helminthosporium species)

Medium

Symptoms: Elongated brown lesions with yellow margins on leaves, premature leaf death, reduced oil yield

Management: Spray Mancozeb 2 kg/ha or Propiconazole. Improve air circulation with correct spacing. Harvest on schedule to prevent disease build-up.

Red Leaf Spot (Curvularia lunata)

Low

Symptoms: Small reddish-brown circular spots on leaf blades, premature leaf death in severe infections

Management: Spray Copper oxychloride every 2-3 weeks during rainy season. Good drainage reduces incidence.

Root Rot (Pythium/Fusarium)

Medium

Symptoms: Yellowing and wilting of clumps, rotting at base of stems, poor re-sprouting after harvest

Management: Improve drainage. Avoid overwatering. Apply Metalaxyl drench if problem persists. Remove and replant affected clumps.

Rust (Puccinia nakanishikii)

Low

Symptoms: Orange-brown pustules on leaves, premature defoliation in humid conditions

Management: Spray Propiconazole or Mancozeb. Improve air circulation. Harvest before rust establishes.

Governed Product Guidance

Crop-specific product selection, application rates, mixing, timing and treatment guidance for Lemongrass are available only through ZEF's governed production-agronomy workflow after country readiness and product/regulatory approval.

Recommended Varieties

East Indian Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus — higher oil yield)

West Indian Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus — preferred for culinary/fresh market)

OD-19 (high citral content)

Krishna (improved oil variety)

Market & Uses

Fresh stalks for culinary use (restaurants, supermarkets, direct consumers), dried lemongrass tea, essential oil distillation (soap, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, aromatherapy), insect repellent products, herbal medicine, natural preservative. Essential oil export price: USD 10-20/kg. Fresh stalks: USD 2-5/kg at premium markets.

Export Potential:

High