PROCESSING OF

CITRONELLA
HORT 181 CROP REPORT
JETER Q. CAÑETE
OUTLINE
• General Description
• Industry Overview
• Characteristics & Morphology
• Varieties
• Culture & Management
• Harvesting
• Primary & Secondary Processing
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Common Name: Citronella
Scientific Name: Cymbopogon winterianus

• from Graminae family, predominantly grown in Java & Ceylon

• cogon-grass look-alike which is primarily utilized for its oil
• extracted oil can be used for the following products:

⚬ perfumes ⚬ disinfectants
⚬ mosquito repellants ⚬ paints
⚬ soaps ⚬ polish
⚬ spray
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
• The global citronella oil market is currently
valued at US$ 110 million
• Our country is importing citronella grass in
large quantities.
• It is planted in backyard scale and used for
bathing and other medicinal purposes only.
• Assistance of DOST and other agencies for
improvement of the process and expansion
of the citronella essential oil venture.
• Global
– it is expected to expand to a market size of 180M USD by the end of 2033.
–U.S.A. is the world's largest market of citronella oil.
–Top producers: Indonesia, China, India, Sri Lanka and Brazil
• Local
–In the Philippines, citronella production is still in the infant stage. There are
only about 20 hectares planted to it in Leyte. Commercial production is
feasible in 1,000 hectares in the towns of Babatngon, Biliran, Javier and
Villaba also in Leyte.
–Our country is importing citronella grass in large quantities although the grass
from which this oil is derived can be grown profitably under Philippine
conditions.
–The recent economic crisis led to the realization that cultivating the crop
locally would be more advantageous than importing the oil. The country could
save a lot in foreign exchange by promoting the commercial planting of
citronella grass.
CHARACTERISTICS
• Lifespan Perennial
• Foliage (Color, Type, Venation) Green, Simple, Parallel
• Pseudostem Reddish
• Maximum Height & Plant Spread 1.5 to 2.5 m; 1 to 1.5 m
• Biogeography South Sudan to South
⚬ Native Distribution Africa, India to Vietnam
⚬ Habitat & Climate Terrestrial; Tropical
⚬ Local Conservation Status Indigenous
• Tropical, evergreen grass, with long thin, bright
green leaves.
• The plant produces clusters of small, creamy-
white flowers on spikes that rise above the foliage
• Forms clumps up to 1.5 to 2.5m tall and 1 to 1.5 m
wide
•Citronella grass is found to be indigenous in the
region. It is planted in backyard scale and used for
bathing and other medicinal purposes only.
LEAVES
STALK

ROOTS BULB
•Citronella
–The pseudostem or the base of the leaf blade (from
tightly overlapping leaf sheaths) is reddish.
– wider, deep-green colored blade-like leaves
–Strong fragrance and taste
•Lemongrass
–The pseudostem is more bulbous and thicker; green to
yellowish brown
–Narrow, light green leaves with lemony scent and taste
VARIETIES
• Cymbopogon coonfertiflorus (Stapf) - parent material of all
commercially, cultivated citronella grass
• Two cultivated types derived from wild “mana” grass:
⚬ Lenabatu (Ceylon type)
⚬ Mahapengari (Java type)
 LENABATU MAHAPENGARI
• Ceylon type • Java type
• Cymbopogon nardus (L) Rendle • Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt
• narrow-leafed, hardier, long-lived • broad-leafed, requires good soil,
• contain only 15 - 65% of total care in growing & cultivating
acetyl sable expressed as • around 85% total acetyl sable
geranial expressed as geranial
 LENABATU MAHAPENGARI
• used as starting material for • used as deodorant for mosquito
preparation of industrially repellant
important perfumery compounds • scent for soaps, sprays,
derived from “geranial” citronella disinfectants, paints, and polish
• Java Citronella Oil
– Andropogon nardus Java de Jong
–more superior type due to high proportions of geraniol and
citronellal, making it an important source of various derivatives
like citronellol and hydroxyl citronellal.
– these derivatives are extensively used in compounding high-grade
perfumes

• Ceylon Citronella Oil

– Andropogon nardus Ceylon de Jong
– inferior type, mainly used on cheaper products rather than for the
extraction of derivatives since it contains lower proportions of geraniol
and citronellal
CULTURE & MANAGEMENT

SOIL CLIMATE
• suitable - young field, • humid
virgin or regenerated • regular rainfalls --> good
(green-fertilized) soils yield; quality of oil; longevity
• any soil type so long as of plantings
sufficiently fertile
• deep sandy soil
• Soil
– a deep sandy soil offers the natural recondition for good
quality oil. Although the growth of the plants on sand is
meager and equally not large, the proportion of oil in
relation to weight of leaves is more favorable.
• Climate
– a humid climate with regular rainfalls would probably offer
the most favorable condition for good yield and quality of oil.
It likewise guarantees longevity of plantings.
– It grows best in bright, but filtered light and leaves may be
burned by intense sun.
CULTURE & MANAGEMENT

ELEVATION PLANT MATERIALS

• grows in low and high • utilize tillers by dividing old
altitude clumps
• 2,000 ft and more • 1 clump - 10 sturdy divisions
• thrives best in 600 to 700 • 1 hole - 2 tillers or sturdy
ft. altitude divisions
• Elevation

– grows in low and high altitude up to 2,000 ft. and more,

but thrives best from 600 to 700 ft. altitude.
• Plant Materials
– Use tillers of citronella grass obtained by dividing old
clumps. Each clump could yield about ten sturdy
divisions.
– Place about two sturdy divisions or tillers to each hole.
CULTURE & MANAGEMENT
PLANTING LAND PREPARATION
• 3 x 3 ft • should be done thoroughly
• could be less in poorer soil • dig hole & insert plant
• 2 x 2 ft interval if plantation materials vertically
will last for only a short • bury tillers fairly deep
time
• large amounts of moisture
• done during rainy days
• Planting
– Plant at a distance of 3 x 3 ft. But in poorer soil the interval may be
less. A 2x2 interval is sufficient in the planting period intended to
last for only a short time
– Citronella requires fairly large amounts of moisture for proper
establishment. Planting should be during the rainy season.
• Land Preparation
–If possible prepare the field thoroughly.
–under coconut areas, and in some other cases, just underbrush
the area, dig hole and insert the plant materials vertically.
–Bury the tillers fairly deep, otherwise the clumps will easily work
themselves out of the ground.
CULTURE & MANAGEMENT
CULTIVATION & WEEDING FERTILIZATION

• Hill-up (loosen the soil) and • use of chemical fertilizers

weed to improve the yield and increases the grass yield
for proper maintenance • but higher yield of oil in fresh,
organic soil
• practice hilling-up right after • green fertilization --> loose soil,
every harvest to hasten the favorable for oil content
recovery and growth of the • urea or 16-20-0 at 2-3 bags/ha
plants. (basal/ side dress)
• Cultivation and Weeding
– - In their natural habitat these plants are not prone to pests
or disease. Also this plant is largely free from pest and
diseases because of aromatic smell.
• Fertilization
–use of chemical fertilizers increases the grass yield, however,
higher yield of oil is obtained on fresh soil
–. Green fertilization makes the soil loose and has a
favorable influence upon the oil content of the citronella
–Apply urea or 16-20-0 at 2-3 bags/ha. either basal or as side
dressing.
HARVESTING
Time of Harvest. 9 months after planting. Three to
four harvests can be done a year. Rainy season
harvest is usually largen than dry season harvest.

Proper Time for Cutting. Best time is when stem

has 6 adult leaves with 7th leaf in rolled-up
position. Timing --> productivity, rooting, flowering

Proper Way of Cutting. Cut the leaves about 6-8

inches above ground level. remove the old, dry
leaves from the fresh leaves before the leaf
bundles are hauled prior to processing.
• Time of Harvest - Under Leyte conditions, harvest eight
months after planting.
• Proper time of Cutting - A too short growing period
decreases the productivity of the plants to such extent that a
field can perish within a short time. Long growing period
allows for development of full root system for longer life span.
Definite cutting period cannot always be indicated if seasons
are irregular. Prevent from flowering.
• Proper way of Cutting - Too low cutting results to the inclusion
of many nearly oil-free parts of the blades which, when
distilled, diminish oil yield.
HARVESTING
Lifespan in the Field. In fertile soils where greater
care is taken during the growing period the
plantation may last from four to five years. Short
intervals between growing period shorten lifespan.

Yield of Oil. Depends on climate, fertility of the soil,

age of plantation and method of distillation.
Average yield is about 0.7%. Estimated oil yield of
grass is 84 –247 kg. of oil per hectare.
• Life span of Citronella on the field - Short intervals between
growing periods of ratoons shorten the life span of citronella
in the field. productive for only slightly more than two years.
Less productive fields should be discontinued because of
citronella is rather a soil exhausting crop and prolonged
growth of the grass in it may be detrimental to the soil, the
plants, the yield and quality of oil.
• Proper time of Cutting - difficult to express the yield of oil on
a per hectare basis in definite figures because it depends on
so many factors. The average yield of oil is about 0.7%. It
fluctuates from 0.5% in the rainy se.ason to 1.2% during the dry
season
1° & 2° PROCESSING
Citronella Leaves

Cleaning, Drying, Shredding

Water-Steam Distillation

perfumes, mosquito repellants, soaps

Citronella Oil spray, disinfectant, polish, paint
WATER-STEAM DISTILLATION

Ramalingam et al. (2019)

(Camacho et al., 2015)
• Recommendations
– economic aspect of producing citronella oil is a vital factor.
– Undertake cooperative ventures where oil extraction facility with adequate capacity can
be fully utilized and shared among the producers to increase yield at minimal cost
– Access to institutional credit and technical know-how can help promote the
processing units as well as open the window for development of by-products out of the
citronella oil to increase livelihood and employment opportunities
– Research institutions particularly the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB)
should play a lead role in developing good management practices for citronella
production
• Direction
– market development for citronella
– identifying market targets for citronella oil
– strengthening market information
– management of price risks to enable higher economic returns to concerned stakeholders.
MOSQUITO REPELLENT SOLUTION
Materials needed:
• 3 to 4 tablespoons of fresh or
dried citronella leaves
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup ethyl alcohol
• knife, measuring cups and
spoons, saucepan, stirrer, stove
• plastic bottle, funnel, spray bottle
• citronella oil
MOSQUITO REPELLENT SOLUTION
Procedure:
• Obtain citronella leaves (fresh or
dried).
• Chop leaves into smaller pieces.
• In a saucepan, boil water then
add citronella leaves.
• Mix well.
• Remove from heat and allow to
cool.
MOSQUITO REPELLENT SOLUTION
Procedure:
• Cover the liquid while cooling to
prevent the oils from the plant to
dissipate into the air.
• Strain the liquid to separate the
leaves.
• Pour the liquid in a plastic bottle
then add 1 cup of 70% ethyl
alcohol.
MOSQUITO REPELLENT SOLUTION

Procedure:
• Mix well and transfer in the
solution in a spray bottle.
• Store in a cool place.
• Shake before spraying
 REFERENCES
Camacho, S. C., Carandang, A. P., Camacho, L. D., Gevaña, D. T., Carandang, M. G., Lorida, R. E., &
Bandian, M. N. P. (2015). Economic potential of small-scale citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus)
production in the Philippines.

Citronella, assamagribusiness.nic.NEDFi/map7.pdf

DOST Biliran, Provincial Science and Technology Center

Wany, A., Jha, S., Nigam, V. K., & Pandey, D. M. (2013).

Ramalingam, K., Kandasamy, A., & Joshua Stephen Chellakumar, P. J. T. (2019). Production of eco-
friendly fuel with the help of steam distillation from new plant source and the investigation of its
influence of fuel injection strategy in diesel engine. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 26,
15467-15480.
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