Turmeric is a perennial herb, native of south Asia. It is also known as "Indian Saffron" is sacred spice of India. It is principal ingredient in Indian culinary and used as flavouring and coloring agent. It is used in drug and cosmetic industry because of its anti-cancer and anti-viral property. Turmeric has special place in religious and ceremonial occasions. Rhizomes are used for propagation. Its leaves are long, broad and of bright green color and flowers are of pale yellow color. India is world largest producer, consumer and exporter of turmeric. In India, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, West Bengal, Karnataka and Kerala are major producers of Turmeric.

 It gives best results, when grown on well drained loamy soils also in sandy or clay loam or red loamy soils. Avoid water stagnation in field as it cannot survive in water logged conditions.

Punjab Haldi 1: Medium heighted plant with green leaves and long, medium thick rhizomes. Flesh is of dark yellow color and skin is of brown color. Ready to harvest in 215 days and its average yield is 108 qtl/acre.   

Punjab Haldi 2: Tall variety with light green, broad leaves and long, thick rhizomes. Flesh is of yellow color and skin is of brown color. Ready to harvest in 240 days and its average yield is 122 qtl/acre.  

Other States Variety

Popular Variety: Amalapuram, Armour, Dindigam, Erode, Krishna, Kodur, Vontimitra, P317, GL Purm I and II, RH2 and RH10

Rajapuri, Salem, Sangli turmeric, Nizamabad bulb.

Prepared field by ploughing land, two - three times. After ploughing do planking operation. For turmeric planting, beds of 15cm height, 1m width and of convenient length are prepared. Keep distance of 50cm between beds.

Time of sowing
To get higher yield, complete rhizome sowing in field by April end. It is also raised by transplanting method, for that rhizome transplantation should be completed within first fortnight of June. For transplanting 35-45 days old seedling is used.  

Spacing
Sow rhizomes in line and keep distance of 30 cm between the row and 20 cm between two plant. After rhizome planting, straw mulch@ 2.5 ton/acre is applied in field.

Sowing Depth
Depth of soil should not exceed 3 cm.

Method of sowing
Direct sowing and transplanting method is used for planting.

Seed Rate
For sowing, select fresh and diseased free rhizomes (mother rhizomes as well as fingers) are used. Seed rate of 6-8 qtl is sufficient for sowing one acre land.

Seed treatment
Before sowing, carry out rhizome treatment with Quinalphos 25EC@20ml + Carbendazim@10gm/10Ltr of water and prepare solution. Then dip rhizomes for 20min in solution. It protects rhizomes from fungal infestation.

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

At the time of field preparation, apply well decomposed cow dung@150 qtl/acre in soil. Apply N:P:K@10:10:10 kg/acre in form of Urea@25 kg/acre, SSP@60 kg/acre and MOP@16 kg/acre. Full dose of Potash and Phosphorus are applied at time of rhizome planting. Nitrogen dose is given in two equal splits. First half dose of N is given 75 days after planting and remaining half dose is given three month after planting.  

Apply Pendimethalin 30EC@800ml per acre or Metribuzin 70WP@400gm/acre in 200Ltr of water within two - three days after planting rhizomes. After weedicide application, cover field with green manure or paddy straw.

Earthing up operation is carried to enhanced root development. After 50-60 days of planting, carry out first earthing operation and next should be done after 40 days.

It is grown as rainfed crop so provide irrigation depending upon rainfall intensity and rainfall frequency. For light textured soil, in whole life cycle, 35-40 irrigations are required.

After planting, crop is mulched with green leaves@40-60 qtl/acre. Repeat mulching@30 qtl/acre after every fertilizer application. 

• Disease and their control:

Blight and leaf spots: If infestation of blight and leaf spot is observed, take spray of Mancozeb@30 gm or Carbendazim@30gm in 10 ltr water by interval of 15-20 alternatively. Or spray with Propiconazole@2ml/ltr of water.

 Root or Rhizome Rot: To prevent crop from root rot, drench crop with Mancozeb@3gm/Ltr at 30, 60 and 90 days after planting.

Bacterial wilt: To prevent crop from bacterial wilt, drench plants with Copper oxychloride@3gm/Ltr of water immediately after disease is seen in field.

• Pest and their control

Rhizome fly: If Infestation of rhizome fly is observed in field, to control take spray of Acephate 75SP@600gm in 100Ltr of water. Repeat the spray with 15days interval.
 

Sucking pest: To control sucking pests take spray of neem based pesticide like Azadirachtin 0.3EC@ 2 ml/Ltr of water.

Shoot borer: If infestation of shoot borer is observed, take spray of Dimethoate@250ml/150Ltr or Quinalphos@250ml/150Ltr of water to control shoot borer.

Depending upon variety, it takes 6-9months for harvesting. Right time for harvesting of turmeric is when leaves of turmeric gets yellow and dry out completely, Remove rhizomes by dugging and after harvesting clean rhizomes. Then dry them in shades for 2-3days. It will make peel hard and easy for boiling.

After cleaning, rhizomes are boiled in water containing sodium bicarbonate (100gm sodium bicarbonate in 100Ltr water) for 1hour. For boiling of rhizomes, utensils, kadhai and boilers are used. To get better quality product, stop the boiling when froth comes out and white fumes appear giving out a typical odour (Price deciding factor). After boiling rhizomes are dried properly for 10-15days. After proper drying, polishing of rhizomes is done manually using wire mesh, gunny bags or mechanically by power operated drum. Then grading of polished rhizomes is done on basis of size, shape and color.

1.Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana

2.Department of Agriculture

3.Indian Agricultural Research Instittute, New Delhi

4.Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research

5.Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare