Alugbati, also known as Malabar spinach or Ceylon spinach, is a popular vegetable crop widely cultivated in the Philippines and other tropical regions such as Africa and Souteast Asia. This succulent, smooth, twining, herbaceous vine is a native of India and is a low-maintenance crop that is relatively easy to grow and provides numerous health benefits due to its high nutrient content.
Alugbati is also a versatile vegetable that can be used in a variety of dishes, from soups to salads to stir-fries. typically grows in settled areas, hedges, and old cultivated land. It is a versatile crop that is commonly found in market gardens, home gardens, and supermarkets in Visayas and Mindanao.
Alugbati is characterized by fleshy, ovate or heart-shaped leaves, pink flowers, and a purple, stalkless fruit that is ovoid or almost spherical when ripe. The plant is usually blanched, and the edible species Basella rubra has red flowers and bright purple-red stems, while Basella alba has green leaves and stems. According to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), alugbati production in 2006 was 32,303 tons from 2,482 hectares, with major producers being Iloilo, Zamboanga del Norte, and Negros Oriental.
Alugbati has a flavor similar to spinach, but it is a very warm seasonal crop unlike the typical spinach grown in the Northeastern United States. This crop is highly heat tolerant, making it a perfect crop for tropical regions.
Uses
Alugbati, is commonly grown for its young shoots which are succulent and can be consumed boiled, fried, or as a green salad. Overcooking can result in sliminess, but it can be used as a thickening agent in soups and stews. The ripe fruit yields a red/purplish dye that is used as a food color, ink, and cosmetic. The roots are used to treat diarrhea, while the leaves and stems act as a laxative. The flowers can be used as an antidote for poison, and a paste of the root is applied as a rubefacient or to treat boils.
The plant has various medicinal uses. A decoction of the leaves mixed with sugar is used to treat catarrhal difficulty in children. The sap is applied to acne to prevent inflammation, soothe headaches, and can be mixed with butter to treat burns and scalds. The plant is believed to be helpful in treating hemorrhages, enhancing fertility in women, and treating sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea in other countries' folklores.
The red varieties are commonly planted as ornamentals and are becoming popular in Europe as pot plants. Alugbati is a rich source of soluble fiber, which aids digestion, and saponins, which can fight off cancer. The red variety is a good source of xanthones, an antioxidant, and folic acid, which is critical for childbearing women and helps prevent birth defects on the neural tube, such as spina bifida.
Nutritional Properties
The composition of Alugbati is comparable to other dark green leafy vegetables with a high moisture content. The leaves contain several triterpeneoligoglycosides of the oleanane-type, including basellasaponins, betavulgaroside I, spinacoside C and momordins. Two anti-fungal peptides and two ribosome-inactivating proteins with antiviral activity have been isolated from the seeds. Table 1 gives the nutritional values of the plant as per US=DA findings in 2002.
Table 1 gives the nutritional values of the plant as per US=DA findings in 2002.
Varieties
There are three common types of alugbati: Basella alba with green stem and oval to almost round leaves; Basella rubra with red stems and green, oval to round leaves; and a third type, which is a hybrid of the two. The Institute of Plant Breeding of the University of the Philippines Los Banos (IPB-UPLB) has released two stopgap varieties in 1981 through its Germplasm Registration and Release Office: the red-stemmed 'Pulahan' and the green-stemmed 'Luntian.'
Soil and Climate Requirements
Alugbati grows well under full sunlight in hot, humid climates and in areas lower than 500 m above sea level. Growth is slow in low temperatures resulting in low yields. Flowering is induced during the short-day months of November to February. Alugbati grows best in sandy loam soils rich in organic matter with pH ranging from 5.5 to 8.0.
Add compost or other organic matter to the soil. Alugbati grows best in soils high in organic matter. Compost also improves soil moisture retention and drainage, helping to create the moist and loamy soil that this spinach prefers. Add at least a couple of inches of compost to the surface of the soil and mix it into the native soil with a tiller. Inland soils tend to be heavier than coastal soils, so they can use up to 6 inches of compost.
Land Preparation
Alugbati is grown in beds similar to upland kangkong. Prepare raised beds or plots 0.75-1.0 m wide and 20-30 em high at any convenient length. Make sure that a good drainage system is in place.
Planting
Planting from Cuttings
Alugbati is usually planted in home gardens using cuttings. The leaves are usually removed before planting to reduce water loss through aspiration. Fresh, healthy tip cuttings of about 20-25 cm length are the best planting materials. Soak the cuttings in water overnight or keep them in a dark and damp space for a day or two. Plant the cuttings on hills or in rows. Space small hills six to eight inches apart and put three or four cuttings on each hill. Alternatively, space rows eight to 12 inches apart, with the cuttings spaced about eight inches apart. Water before and after planting, if the soil is dry. Mulch with grass clippings or rice straw.
Planting from Seed
Scarify (to make tiny punctures or superficial incisions) the seeds by using sandpaper or a knife to cut the outer seed coat. Plant the seeds directly outside after soil temperatures have warmed to the minimum temperature required for germination of 18.33 °C. Plant them about 1/4 inch deep in rows spaced about eight inches apart. Alternatively, spread seeds all across the soil and then thin the seedlings later so that they are spaced about eight inches apart. Keep the soil consistently moist. If the soil dries out, the plants can flower, which makes the leaves taste bitter.
In home gardens, alugbati is usually grown on slanting or horizontal trellises. For commercial production, densities of about 50,000 plants/hectare are recommended.
Trellising
For commercial production, grow alugbati without trellis. In home gardens, provide V-shaped trellis, semi vertical, or vertical trellis to maximize space.
Irrigation / Watering
Alugbati requires plenty of water for optimum growth. During the dry season, use either furrow irrigation at 5-7 days interval or sprinkler irrigation daily. Provide drainage canals during the rainy season. Apply mulch, like grass clippings or rice straw, to conserve soil moisture during the dry season and protect the soil during the wet season.
Avoid over irrigation to prevent foliar diseases development and leaching of soil nutrients.
Weed Management
At early stage of the plants weed control is necessary to give alugbati a head start. Mulch with plastic or grasses/rice straw to suppress weed growth. With high density planting, spot weeding is already sufficient.
Pest and Disease Management
Alugbati is generally tolerant to pests and diseases, which makes it easy to grow organically. However, it serves as a host to a number of insect pests such as leafminers and cutworms, which can be managed by regular harvesting. Root-knot nematodes can be minimized by crop rotation with corn and planting of marigold. Alugbati is also tolerant to leaf spot caused by Colletotrichum spp.
Harvesting
Alugbati is ready for harvest at 30-45 days after transplanting. Plants may be harvested either once (once over) or repeatedly, by priming. In once-over harvest, cut the stems or shoots close to the ground, or uproot the entire plant (if grown from seeds),then wash and tie in undies. With multiple harvests, pick the shoots at weekly mtervals. Harvest late in the afternoon to reduce water loss and keep the produce in a cool, shaded place.
Post harvest Handling
Alugbati wilts easily. A common market practice is to sprinkle the bundles with water or to wrap them m banana leaves to retain freshness. If harvested with the roots intact, keep the bundles fresh for up to 7 days by letting them stand in a basin of water. For home consumption pack alugbati in styrofore boxes then store in the refrigerator to keep them fresh for up to 14 days.
Cost of Production and ROI per hectare
|
Cost of Production and ROI per hectare Items |
Amount (P) |
|
|
VARIABLE COSTS |
||
|
Labor (P250/man-day (MD) |
||
|
Clearing (20 MD) |
5,000.00 |
|
|
Bed preparation (20 MD) |
5,000.00 |
|
|
Manure application (10 MD) |
2,500.00 |
|
|
Sowing (2 MD) |
500.00 |
|
|
Transplanting (20 MD) |
5,000.00 |
|
|
Topdressing (20 MD) |
5,000.00 |
|
|
Spraying (20 MD) |
5,000.00 |
|
|
Weeding (30 MD) |
7,500.00 |
|
|
Irrigation (300 MD) |
75,000.00 |
|
|
Harvesting/sorting (240 MD) |
60,000.00 |
|
|
Miscellaneous (e.g. hauling, repairs, etc.) (10 MD) |
2,500.00 |
|
|
Subtotal |
173,000.00 |
|
|
Materials |
||
|
Seeds (3 kg) |
1,500.00 |
|
|
Manure (40 sacks) |
10,000.00 |
|
|
Fertilizer |
||
|
14 -14 - 14 (6 bags) |
7,500.00 |
|
|
46 - 0 - 0 (20 bags) |
3,000.00 |
|
|
Pesticides |
6,000.00 |
|
|
Fuel and oil |
6,000.00 |
|
|
Packaging Materials |
4,000.00 |
|
|
Miscellaneous (e.g. pail, gloves, etc.) |
4,000.00 |
|
|
Subtotal |
42,000.00 |
|
|
Interest on Production Loan at 21% per Annum |
51,368.10 |
|
|
TOTAL (VARIABLE COSTS) |
266,368.10 |
|
|
FIXED COSTS |
|
|
Land rental |
25,000.00 |
|
Depreciation |
|
|
Sprinklers ( 5 pairs) |
2,500.00 |
|
Knapsack sprayer ( 1 unit) |
500.00 |
|
Scythe (5 pieces) |
100.00 |
|
Hoe ( 5 pieces) |
500.00 |
|
Shovel ( 3 pieces) |
360.00 |
|
Plastic drum (2 pieces) |
650.00 |
|
TOTAL (FIXED COSTS) |
29,610.00 |
|
TOTAL COSTS |
295,978.10 |
|
GROSS INCOME |
|
|
Regular season (at P10/bundle with 80,000 bundles/ha |
800,000.00 |
|
Offseason (at P15/bundle with 40,000 bundles/ha) |
600,000.00 |
|
NET INCOME |
|
|
Regular season |
504,021.90 |
|
Offseason (at P12/bundle with 40,000 bundles/ha |
304,021.90 |
References
Backyard Gardening Technoguide. Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and development Center (PCARRD) Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SET-UP)
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