Optimized irrigation regime and planting technique improve yields and economics in aloe vera [Aloe barbadensis (Miller)]

Aloe vera [Aloe barbadensis (Miller)] is an important medicinal plant that belongs to the family Asphodelaceae (Liliaceae) with versatile properties. Aloe vera cultivation has accomplished economic significance because of its ever-increasing demand in the cosmetic, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries. Many researchers have done notable research work on its pharmaceutical and other properties. Still, suitable agricultural practices for getting high yield at a low cost of cultivation in the subtropical region are meager. Field experiments were performed at the research farm of CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, in two consecutive years, 2016-2018. A study was conducted to optimize the irrigation regimes (rainfed, 20 +/- 5% available soil moisture (ASM), and 40 +/- 5% available soil moisture), planting methods (flat, ridge, and raised bed planting), and age of offsets (30, 60, and 90 days old) under sub-tropical region of north India for enhancing the yield of aloe vera leaves and marketable produces for sustainable agriculture and better resource use efficiency. The results revealed that maximum fresh leaves (60.6 t ha-1), gel (25.8 t ha-1), and juice yield (22.7 t ha-1) were obtained when the crop was irrigated at 20 % available soil moisture in raised bed planting method and 60 days old offsets were used for planting. However, maximum water productivity (21.5 g L-1) was recorded in rainfed conditions under the ridge bed planting method, which is statistically at par with the water productivity under raised bed planting method in the same irrigation regime, i.e., rainfed condition with for 60 days old aloe offsets. Best monitory returns, i.e., maximum gross ($2452.5 ha-1) and net return ($1952.0 ha-1), were also computed in the treatment combination of raised bed planting method, 20 % available soil moisture and 60 days old offsets. Thus, planting of 60 days old offsets on the raised beds by providing irrigation at 20 % available soil moisture throughout the cropping period is a suitable treatment combination for getting higher yield, water productivity and monetary returns for aloe vera cultivation.