Turmeric Farming – Planting to Harvesting

Turmeric – Introduction

Turmeric is the dried rhizome of Curcuma longa, an herbaceous plant. Depending upon the Turmeric variety, a rhizome has 1.8-5.4% curcumin, the pigment and 2.5-7.2% of essential oil. It is used as an important condiment and as a dye. Turmeric finds application in drug and cosmetic industries. It has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and disease-fighting qualities. Turmeric is a perennial herb, native of south Asia. It is also known as ‘Indian Saffron’. Leaves are long, broad and of bright green color. Flowers are of pale yellow color. India is world’s largest producer, consumer and exporter of Turmeric. In India, Andhra Pradesh is the leading state followed by Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Orissa, Kerala and Bihar.

Suitable Climate for Turmeric

Turmeric can be grown from sea level to 1500m in the hills, at a temperature range of 20-30⁰C with a rainfall of 1500-2250mm per annum. It is also grown as an irrigated crop.

Soil requirement

Turmeric can grow in all sorts of soils. Well drained sandy loam, red soil and clay-loam soils rich in humus with fairly good Potash content are best for its cultivation. The soil should be well aerated. Heavy soil should be avoided. Soils with high organic matter are preferred; Incorporate FYM (Farm Yard Manure) or compost during land preparation. Ensure Soil has good internal drainage while laying out field. Over watering or stagnant water is harmful to Turmeric.

Home hobby enthusiasts would do well to make a potting mixture of equal parts of compost, perlite and peat moss or coir.  Another potting mixture may be suggested to contain of 5 parts of wood chips, one part of peat moss and one part of perlite/vermiculite.

Sowing period

Sowing is done in April in good pre-monsoon rainfall areas which will good yield. Otherwise, sowing is done in June. It is a 6 – 8 month crop.  Treat seed with Quinalphos and M-45 solutions for 30 minutes before sowing is done.

It is cultivated as a subsidiary crop to Ginger in some areas and in other areas with Chili, Colocasia, Onion, Brinjal and Cereals like Maize, Ragi etc.

Land Preparation

Land is prepared by ploughing 3 or 4 times (or as required). The earth should not have any lumps or boulders. It should be well aerated. Apply FYM and mix well. Apply Urea, Superphosphate and Potash in the top soil and mixed well. The areas where the rainfall is sufficiently early, crop can be planted during April-May with the receipt of pre-monsoon showers. Since Turmeric is a shade loving plant, castor or Sesbania grandiflora may be raised along the border lines in the field

Turmeric Planting material and planting

Well developed, healthy and disease free, whole or split, mother rhizomes of turmeric weighing 35-44g are used for planting. Rhizomes are treated with 0.3% Dithane M-45 and 0.5% Malathion for 30 minutes before storing.

Prepare beds of 15 cm height 1 m. wide and any convenient length. Small pits are made with a hand hoe in the beds in rows with spacing of 25x 30 cm and covered with soil or dry powdered cattle manure. The optimum spacing in furrows and ridges is about 45-60 cm between the beds    and 25 cm between the plants. Approximately 2500 kg of rhizomes are required for one hectare.

Fertilization

Fertilizer application actually depends upon the soil of the farmer. It is recommended to have the soil and water analyzed before deciding on the actual quantity of fertilizers.

Farm yard manure @10 t/ha is applied as basal dressing. Beds are earthed up each time after top dressing. The NPK recommendation is 125:37:37 kg per ha. Whole Phosphorus (P) and Potash (K₂O) is given as basal dose at the time planting while Nitrogen (N) is applied as 25kg each at basal, 30,60,90 and 120 days after planting i.e., 125kg N.

Some growers may like to give the fertilizers in three parts.

Companion Plants

Turmeric grows well with most plants, as it likes filtered  light growing under fruit trees is fantastic, also grow with Kaffir lime, Chilies, Lemongrass, and Coriander..

Irrigation

Careful irrigation practices are to be put in place for watering. Water needs to be sufficient but over watering is to be avoided.  Rhizome bulking requires sufficient moisture presence in the field.

Typical Production of Turmeric

The average yield per hectare is 20-25 tonnes of green Turmeric.

Mulching and Weed control

Apply mulching layers immediately after planting with tree leaves, purali, sugarcane trash or whatever available with the farmer. This may be up to about 5 cm height. Weeding operation may be done after about 30 days when mulch should be removed first.  Apply Mulch after weeding and application of fertilizes. Repeat operations at each fertilizer application.

Pests and Diseases Control  

Some information on insects, pests and disease of Turmeric is discussed below. The control measures depend upon type and intensity of the problems and also whether organic or inorganic pesticides are to be used as decided by the Farmer. For more information on pests and diseases please go through my blog on same.

• Downey Mildew: spraying Dithane M-45 at interval is recommended.
• Green Jassids: spray Chloropyrofos/ Dichlorvos/Dimethoate/Phorate/Imidacloprid
• Shoot and Fruit Borer: spray Malathion/Endosulfan/Chloropyrofos. Spread Phorate.
• Rhizome scale:  Dip rhizomes in Quinalphos 0.1% both prior to storage and sowing.
• White Fly: spray Malathion. Drench with Thimet.
• Thrips: spray Imidaclorprid/Chloropyros/Dimethoate. Several sprays may be required. Use Azadrachtin oil.
• Scale insects: Spraying of Parathion (0.03%) emulsion, Dimethoate 150 ml and 250 ml kerosene oil in 100 liter of water or Malathion@ 0.1 % or Carbonyl @ 0.05% plus oil 1%.
• Caterpillar may be handpicked and removed.
• Leaf miner: Spraying of Phosphomidon @ 1 ml or Monocrotophos @ 1.5 ml. per liter 2 or 3 times fortnightly.
• Grubs are in the earth and they chew on the roots. Later on they transform into beetles and chew leaves. Imidaclorprid spray and drenching is indicated.
• Rhizome rot: Precaution: Dip in M-45 solution both before storage and before sowing. After attack: drench with M-45 solution.
• Fungal diseases, brown powdery on leaves. It is advised to remove such leaves. Spray Neem oil one teaspoon into approximately 10 liters of water.
• Leaf blight makes leaves turn yellow. Even though the vigor of the plant may not be much affected, plant look becomes ungainly. Remove such leaves.
• Gummosis: Scraping off the affected area and application of Bordeaux mixture or Copper Oxyfluoride.
• Anthracnose: Dried twigs are pruned off first. This to be followed by two sprays of Carbendazim @1 grams/liter or copper oxychloride – 3 grams/liter fortnightly.
• Spray of Zineb or Mancozeb may be regularly done weekly.
• Leaf curl can be prevented by spray of Dimethoate.

Processing of Turmeric for marketing

Curing

Curing is the process of boiling the rhizomes in water till froth starts coming out of water. Thereafter rhizomes are dried in the sun.

Manual Methods:  the rhizomes are boiled in water in a big copper or iron or earthen pots with water kept to minimum.  After froth comes out and white fumes appear boiling is stopped.  At this stage rhizomes would be soft to touch.  Sun drying is then done.

Improved methods:  Larger perforated troughs of iron with handles are used to keep rhizomes. These troughs are then immersed in boiling water pans added with sodium bicarbonate. When boiling is complete the troughs are pulled out of water and dried in the sun by drying on bamboo mats or floor layered one above to about 5 cm height.   It may take more than 10 days for drying to be complete.

Polishing

Dried Turmeric has rather a dull color and has scales and root bits on the surface. Polishing is done to improve the appearance of Turmeric for marketing.

• Manual Polishing:  Rub the dried Turmeric fingers wrapped in gunny bags by hand or feet on a hard surface.

• Mechanical Polishing:  Here a drum mounted on a central axis with inside expanded mesh is used. Turmeric fingers are rotated in this drum and they scrub against each other and also against the sides of the drum as the drum is rolled. Drum can be hand rotated or power rotated.

Coloring: the polished Turmeric is immersed for some time in Turmeric suspension water filled in a drum.  Turmeric fingers are put to dry after a uniform coating of the suspension has been obtained.

Uses of Turmeric

Turmeric is used as condiment, dye, drug and cosmetic in addition to its use in religious ceremonies.

Medicinal Benefits

• Turmeric is rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds. Traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine use turmeric for relief in arthritis pain and regulate menstruation. It has also been used to improve digestion and liver function.

• Turmeric is recognized as an alternative therapy for heartburn, inflammation, and stomach ulcers.

• If you eat curry, you’ve consumed Turmeric. It’s the ingredient that gives curry its spicy flavor and vibrant color.

• Turmeric’s most active ingredient is called curcumin. It’s thought to be responsible for most of Turmeric’s health benefits.

• Curcumin is a polyphenol antioxidant. It’s said to have potent antiviral, antibacterial, and anticancer capabilities.

• Curcumin protects the gut from damage from NSAIDs and other noxious agents. It has a role in keeping the bacteria associated with ulcers in check, helps ulcers heal, and it works actively on killing cancer cells in the gut.

A note of caution:  Overall, there isn’t enough evidence to support the use of Turmeric for any health condition. More research is needed to determine its effectiveness in people.

Turmeric Risks

• Turmeric is a natural blood thinner. Avoid Turmeric if one takes drugs that thin blood or in case of an upcoming surgery.

• Turmeric may also lower blood sugar, lower blood pressure, and make gallbladder problems worse.

• Taking Turmeric for a long period of time or in high doses may increase risk of indigestion, nausea, and diarrhea.

• Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding shouldn’t use excessive amounts of Turmeric.

There’s associated risk of allergic reaction with Turmeric as with all natural remedies.

A better way to take Turmeric

Curcumin is not well absorbed in the body. Black pepper contains the bioactive compound piperine, which is an alkaloid like capsaicin. Addition of black pepper with turmeric boosts the absorption of curcumin.

Turmeric (curcumin) and black pepper (piperine) combination has shown to improve health due to their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and disease-fighting qualities.

Harvesting

Turmeric crop is from 6 to 8 months.  Sowing time is variety dependent. Plants are ready for harvesting when leaves of Turmeric turn yellowish and dry. Plough the land and then gather by hand picking the clumps. The clumps are then cleaned of mud and other materials.

Seed storage:  seed rhizomes are generally stored after heaping under a higher ground in shade and plastered with mixed cow dung.  Storage is also done in pits dug in earth and covered.

Acknowledgements:

1. https://www.indiaagronet.com/indiaagronet/crop%20info/turmeric.htm
2. https://www.apnikheti.com/en/pn/agriculture/horticulture/spice-and-con…
3. http://www.pantnagarbioplanttech.com/turmeric-crop.html
4. https://www.agrifarming.in/turmeric-farming

About nkp

Hi ; I have had opportunity to travel widely and have keen watched whatever farming practices the local farmers were engaged in. Back home been growing gerberas mostly in polyhouses, but outside in kitchen garden as well. i love these hardy perennials. good for business too if done in a routine orderly scientific manner. Also engaged in farming of wheat and organic vegetables on a small scale for me and family. My service profile has been that of an electronic and telecom engineer and now am engaged in web site creation and blogging.