Turmeric Cultivation

Turmeric is a flowering plant Curcuma Longa of the ginger family, Zingiberacea the roots of which are used in cooking. The rhizomes are used fresh or boiled in water and dried, after which they are ground into a deep orange-yellow powder commonly used as a coloring and flavoring agent.

  • Southern India

    1 March - 30 April
Turmeric Rhizomes
Turmeric Rhizomes

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.

Turmeric Cultivation
Turmeric Cultivation

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:

VARIETY

MEAN YIELD (t/ha)

CROP DURATION

(days)

DRY RECOVERY

(%)

CURCUMIN

(%)

OLEORESIN

(%)

ESSENTIAL OIL

(%)

Suguna

29.3

190

12.0

7.3

13.5

6.0

Sudarshna

28.8

190

12.0

5.3

15.0

7.0

Co-1

30.0

285

19.5

3.2

6.7

3.2

BSR-1

30.7

285

20.5

4.2

4.0

3.7

 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.

Turmeric rhizomes
Turmeric rhizomes

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.

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