GARLIC

Garlic a popular bulb crop cultivated throughout Asia. It is used as spice in many dishes. Also it possesses excellent medicinal properties. It is a rich source of Vitamin A, C, Protein, Phosphorus, and Potassium etc. It helps in digestion; also it reduces cholesterol in human blood. Major Garlic producing states are Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab and Haryana.

It can be cultivated on various type of soil. It gives best result when grown in sandy loam and silt loam soils rich in organic matter. Loose and sandy soils are not suitable for cultivation as bulb produce in such soil are deformed with less keeping quality. pH of soil should be 6 to 7.

Large Segmented: 2-5 cloves in each bulb, less aromatic and high yielding variety. It gives an average yield of 80-105qtl/acre.

Solan Selection: Small cloves and 12-15 cloves in each bulb. It gives an average yield of 62.5-80qtl/acre.

Selection-1: Medium white color cloves, same size and is more attractive than other varieties. It is suitable for sowing in low and intermediate hilly areas. It gives an average yield of 80-105qtl/acre.

G.H.C-1: It gives more yield than other varieties and is aromatic. It has large size cloves which are easy to peel. It gives an average yield of 84-105qtl/acre.

Other state varieties:

Bhima Omkar: Ready to harvest in 120-135 days. It produces medium size white color bulbs. Gives average yield of 32-56qtl/acre.

Yamuna Safed 3 (G 282): Bulbs are creamy white and bigger in size. 15-16 numbers of cloves are per bulb.

Yamuna Safed (G-1): Bulbs are compact with silvery white appearance. Cloves are of sickle shape with 25-30 cloves per bulb.

Yamuna Safed 2(G-50): Bulbs are compact with attractive white creamy flesh contain 35-40 cloves per bulb.

G 40: Cloves are of fresh white color and gives average yield of 50-60qtl/acre.

Yamuna Safed 4 (G 323): Bulbs are silvery white and contain number of cloves 20-25 per bulb.

Yamuna Safed 5 (G -189): Ready to harvest in 150-160days and gives average yield of 50-60qtl/acre.

Bhima Purple: Ready to harvest in 120-135 days. Bulbs are having attractive purple color. Gives average yield of 24-28qtl/acre.

VL Garlic 1: Bulbs are of whitish color. It is ready to harvest in 180-190 days. Gives average yield of 56-60qtl/acre in hills and 36-40qtl/acre in plains.

Give three to four deep ploughing and bring soil to fine tilth. Add well decomposed cow dung to increase organic content of soil. Then levelled soil and divide into small plots and channels.

Time of sowing
Low areas: October-November
Intermediate areas: September-October
High areas: April

Spacing
For sowing, use row to row spacing of 20cm and plant to plant spacing of 10cm.  

Sowing Depth
Sow garlic cloves at depth of 1.5-2cm keeping their growing heads upward.

Method of sowing
For sowing of garlic, use dibbling method.

Seed Rate
For sowing in one acre land, use 208-250 kg of cloves.

Seed Treatment
Seed treatment with Thiram@2gm/kg of seed + Benomyl 50WP@1gm/liter water effectively controls damping off and smut diseases. After chemical treatment, seed treatment with bio agent Trichoderma viride@2gm/kg of seed is recommended; it helps in reducing early seedling diseases and soil borne inoculum.

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

Apply 100qtl/acre of Farm Yard Manure or well decomposed cowdung at time of land preparation. Apply Nitrogen@46kg, Phophorus@32kg and Potash@25kg in form of Urea@100kg and Single Super Phosphate@200kg and Muriate of Potash@42kg per acre. Apply whole quantity of Phosphorus and Potash and half dose Nitrogen before garlic sowing. Apply remaining amount of Nitrogen one month after sowing.

WSF: 10-15 days after transplanting, sprayed NPK 19:19:19 @10gm along with micronutrient@2.5 to 3gm/Ltr of water.

Depending upon climatic conditions and soil type decide irrigation amount and frequency. Apply first irrigation immediately after sowing. Apply remaining irrigation, at interval of 8-12 days.

Initially garlic seedlings grow slowly. So better to use chemical herbicides then hand weeding to avoid injury. To control weeds take Pre-emergence spray of Pendimethalin@900ml/acre or Oxyfluorfen@425 ml/acre within 72 hours of sowing. Two to three weeding are recommended for weed control. First hand weeding should be done one month after sowing and second hand weeding to be done one month after first hand weeding.

Depending upon variety, crop becomes ready to harvest in 135-150 days after sowing. Optimum time for harvesting is when 50% leaves start yellowing and drying. Stop irrigation at least 15 days before harvesting. Plants are pulling out or uprooted, then tied into small bundle and kept in field or shade for 2-3 days. After proper drying, dry stalks are removed and bulbs are cleaned. It gives an average yield of 42-62.5qtl/acre.

After harvesting and proper drying, bulbs are sorted and graded according to size. Garlic should be store at dark, well ventilated, clean and dry place. In cold storage, garlic can be store for 3-4month at temperature of 0-2°C and 65-70% relative humidity.