Turmeric Cultivation

Introduction:

• Turmeric is a part of Curcuma Long botanic group and it is a perennial herbaceous plant of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae).

• It is used as a seasoning, dye, drug with diverse applications and also used in cosmetics industry.

• It is used in various religious ceremonies.

• India is a major producer and exporter of turmeric in the world.

Location:

• The important states which cultivate turmeric are Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Karnataka, Wet Bengal, Gujarat, Meghalaya, Maharashtra and Assam.

• Andhra Pradesh solely occupies 35.0% of area and 47.0% of Turmeric production.

Season:

 In India, Turmeric cultivation is done in two seasons i.e., February-May and August-October.

Climate:

• It is tropical herb which grows in both tropics and subtropics.

• It can grow from sea level to 1500m above the sea.

• It grows at a temperature range of 20-35°c with an annual rainfall of 1500mm or more.

• It requires a humid climatic condition.

• It is grown under rainfed or irrigated conditions.

Soil Requirement:

• Soil used for Turmeric cultivation should be rich and friable.

• It grows best in well drained sandy or clayey loam with a little higher sand content.

• It grows on different types of soils from sandy loam, light black, clay loams to red soils with a pH range of 4.5-7.5 and should have a good organic status.

Land Preparation:

• Minimum tillage operations should be adopted while preparing the land in Turmeric Farming.

• To give at least 50cm spacing between beds, beds should be prepared with a height of 15cm, 1m width and suitable length.

• In case of irrigated crops, rhizomes should be planted in shallow pits on the top of the ridges and ridges and furrows should be prepared.

• Solarization of beds is useful to check the multiplication of pests and diseases causing organisms.

• After the work is completed Polythene sheets which is used for soil solarisation should be kept away safely.

Spacing:

• In the beds, with a hand hoe small pits are made in rows with a spacing of 25cm x 30 cm and it is covered with soil or dry powdered cattle manure.

• The adequate spacing in furrows and ridges should be between 45-60cm and 25cm between the plants.

Varieties:

 Sowing Time & Seed Rate:

• Depending upon the variety and time of sowing, well grown turmeric crop is ready to harvest in 7-9 months.

• The crops can be planted in April- March with the arrival of pre-monsoon showers where the rainfall comes early.

• For planting one hectare of turmeric a seed rate of 2500 kg of rhizomes is required.

Irrigation:

• Irrigation is done depending upon the soil and climatic conditions for turmeric.

• In case of medium heavy soils, 15-25 irrigations are given depending on the rainfall.

• In case of light textured red soils, 35-40 irrigations are needed.

Manure & Fertilizers:

• Farmers use natural fertilizers, animal dung for a good crop and for the maximum output and avoid using other harmful pesticides and chemicals.

• While planting rhizomes in the pits application of well rotten cow dung and compost from their own farm at 2-3tonne/acre should be given as a basal dose.

Harvesting:

• Harvesting is done from January- April

• Early varieties mature in 7-8 months and medium varieties in 8-9 months.

• When leaves turn yellow and starts drying it means that the crop is ready for harvesting.

• At maturity, leaves are closely cut to the ground, the land is plowed well and rhizomes are collected by handpicking or with spade clumps.

• The rhizomes that are picked are collected and cleaned.

• Before curing, mother and finger rhizomes are separated.

Storage:

• Rhizomes are piled up under the tree shade or in ventilated sheds and covered with turmeric leaves.

• The heap is plastered over with earth mixed with cow dung.

• The seed rhizomes can store in pits with sawdust.

• It can be covered with wooden planks with 1 or 2 holes of aeration.

Yield:

• The pure crop yield differs from 8000-10,000 kg per acre.

• Plenty of manuring and copious irrigation may lead to high yield of 12,000 kg per acre.