1. Curcuma longa L.
Turmeric is perennial herbaceous plant native to South East Asia
Rhizomes contain % curcumin (yellow coloring factor) and % essential oil.
Turmeric is used as condiment and as dye in cosmetic industries.
India produces 75% of world’s turmeric and is the largest exporter.
Area under turmeric in India is 193’000Ha and production is 1025’000MT
In H.P. area under turmeric is 776Ha and production is 13147M.T.
Andhra Pradesh is the leader in turmeric production. The other major growing states are Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Orrisa, Kerela and Bihar.
Important species of turmeric are:
Curcuma longa : about 96% area is under cultivation of this species
C. aromatic : Cochin turmeric or kasturi manjal
C. angustifolia : East Indian Arrow, roots contain high amount of starch
C. amada: Mango ginger; it tastes like mango

2. Varieties
Name
Source
Suguna, Suvarna, Sudharshana, IISR Alleppey, Supreme, IISR Kedaram, Pratibha, Prabha
IISR, Calicut
Co-1, BSR-1, BSR-1, Co-2
TNAU, Coimbatore
Roma, Suroma, Ranga, Rasmi
OUAT, Bhubaneshwar
Rajendra Sonia
RAU
Sugundham
Jagudan (GAU)
Krishna
Kasabdigraj( MAU)

3. Manures and Fertilizers
Climate
Tic is a tropical crop grown from almost at sea level to 1400m above mean sea level.
Optimum temperature range is 20-30C with annual rainfall of 150 to 250 cm.
Soil and Field Preparation
Well drained fertile sandy loam to clay loam soils though can be raised in all type of soils
Soil should be brought to fine tilth by one deep ploughing followed by 2-3 light ploughings followed by planking
Optimal bed size of 3m ×1m × 15cm (the length and breadth of beds may be increased or decreased as per the convenience)
Manures and Fertilizers
q/ha
Basal dose( N:P:K)kg/ha : 25: 60:60. Apply 100kg N/ha in 3-4 equal splits half in two to three splits at 30, 45, 90 and 120 days after planting as top dressing.

4. Sowing Time
April – May (depends up on pre monsoon showers) In Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu it is sown during July-August.
Sowing Method
Seed should be healthy
Seed rhizomes of 3-5cm in length, 30-0g in weight with 2-3 bud eyes are considered to be the best.
Seed Dithane M-45 or 0.25% for 30 minutes
Spacing × 15-20cm. Rhizomes are sown cm deep.
In furrow and ridge method rhizomes are sown at 45-60cm × 25-30cm
Seed Rate
25q/ha
Irrigation
First: light irrigation immediately after sowing
Subsequently days interval depending upon moisture condition of the soil
Proper drainage should be ensured during rainy season
Rhizome formation and rhizome bulking stages are critical for irrigation

5. Mulching It enhances organic matter, improves the physical properties of soil and prevents erosion Also conserves soil moisture and prevents weed growth Green leaves are the best mulching material First mulching should be done immediately after transplanting green leaves/ha)and second and third 50q green leaves/ha) at 40 and 90 days after planting, Weeding and Earthing Hand weeding is common in ginger First at 40days after transplanting and subsequently at 80, 110 and 150 DAP Earthing up of ridges up to 30cm should be done after second and third weeding Harvesting Early varieties mature in 7-8 months, medium in 8-9 months while late varieties matures in 9-10 months. After harvesting rhizomes are thoroughly washed to remove soil and dirt and dried in sun for one day Yield : q/ha

6. Preservation of seed rhizomes
Turmeric is vegetatively propagated crop through rhizomes
At the time of harvesting the healthy, disease and insect free seed rhizomes are selected for seed purpose. Seed ginger has to be stored for about 3 to 4 months from the time of harvesting to planting.
Pre storage seed treatment with 0.1% Quinalphos % Dithane M-45 solution is done for 30 minutes and then dried in shade before storage in pits
Turmeric is stored in pits. Area selected for pits should be on elevation where run-off water does not accumulate.
The walls of pit may be plastered with cow dung along with loamy soil.
The pits should be dug 1 meter deep and a layer of sand or saw dust is put at the bottom of the pit before storage.
In pits rhizomes are stored in layers, each layer followed by the layer of dry sand or saw dust leaving sufficient space at the top of pits to facilitate proper aeration.
The pit is covered with a wooden plank leaving some space between the seeds and planks and is plastered with mud.
A small hole is made in the plank through which a hollow bamboo is inserted to provide aeration for the rhizomes.

7. Processing of Turmeric
Curing: Method was suggested by CFTRI, Mysore
Fresh rhizomes are boiled in lime water or sodium bicarbonate containing each
of sodium bisulphate and hydrochloric acid per 45.3kg of rhizomes
Boiled rhizomes are sun dried in layers of 5-7cm for 10-15days till they become hard and bristle to produce metallic sound on breaking them
Mother rhizomes gives higher curing recovery than fingers. Yield of cured
turmeric is 20-30% of fresh turmeric
2. Polishing:
The dried fingers are rubbed manually or by hand or power operated drum
The drum is mounted on central axis, while sides are made up of expanded metal mesh
Cured turmeric is rotated at 30-40rpm
Rhizomes get polished due to rubbing and abrasions of the surface against the mesh

8. 3. Colouring: For 100kg of half polished turmeric coating emulsion is prepared by using alum(0.04 kg), turmeric powder(2 kg), castor oil(0.4kg), sodium bisulphate(30g) and concentrated hydrochloric acid(30ml).

9. Plant Protection Measures
Diseases
Soft rot/ rhizome rot
Pythium graminicolum
Use healthy and disease free seed
Ensure proper drainage
Soil drenching with 0.1% Ceresan or Captan
Seed treatment with 0.25% Dithane M-45 and 0.1% bavistin for 60min before storage and sowing
Yellows
Fusarium solani & F oxysporum f. sp. zingiberi
Same as for soft rot
Leaf blotch
Taphrina maculans

10. Insects
Shoot borer
Conogethes punctiferalis
Spray
Leaf roller
Udaspes folus
Spray 0.1% Carbaryl
Thrips
Thrips tabaci
Nematodes
Meloidogyne incognita
Nemagon
Rhizome scale
Aspiodiotus hartii