GINGER

Ginger, known as "Adrakh" is most important major spice crop of India. India is leading producer of Ginger. Karnataka, Orissa, Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat are major ginger producing states.

In Maharashtra, ginger cultivation is popular as higher benefits are obtained from it. Sangli, Satara, Raigad, Latur, Aurangabad, Thane and Nanded are major ginger cultivating areas of Maharashtra.  

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. Ideal pH range of 6-6.5 is required for good growth of crop. Avoid soil on which previously ginger was taken. Do not cultivate ginger crop on same site year after year.   

Mahim: Popular in Maharashtra and cultivated in almost all district. Medium height variety, ready to harvest in 210days. Gives average yield of 75.4qtl/acre.

IISR Varada: It gives high yield of fresh as well as dry ginger yield. It is ready to harvest in 200 days. It gives an average yield of 85qtl/acre. 

IISR Mahima: High yielding variety gives bold rhizomes. Ready to harvest in 200days. Gives average yield of 87.5qtl/acre.

IISR Rejatha: Ready to harvest in 200days. Gives average yield of 84.5qtl/acre.

Suprabha: Ready to harvest in 229days. It gives an average yield of 60qtl/acre.

Suruchi: Ready to harvest in 218days. Gives average yield of 44qtl/acre.

Other states varieties

Himgiri: It is suitable for growing in low and intermediate areas. The outbreak of rhizome rot disease is less in this variety.

Green Ginger variety: Rio-De-Janerio, China, Varadha, Maran, Wynad local.

Dry Ginger varieties: Maran, Nadia.

Prepare fields by ploughing the land two - three times. After ploughing do planking operation. For ginger plantation, beds of 15 cm height, 1 m width and of convenient length are prepared. Keep distance of 50 cm between beds.

To keep check on weeds, pest and diseases do soil solarization of bed. For that covered bed with polythene sheet for 20-30days.  At time of plantation, mix Neem cake powdered@25gm per pit and well in soil. 

Time of sowing

To get higher yield, complete rhizome sowing from April to June month.

Spacing

Sow rhizomes in line and keep distance of 25cm between the row and 22.5cm between two plant. After rhizome planting, mulching with green leaves@50qtl/acre is done in field. Second mulching is carried out after 40day with green leaves@20qtl/acre. 

Sowing Depth

Sow rhizomes at depth of 4-5cm.

Method of sowing

Direct sowing also 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 560-800kg/acre is sufficient for sowing one acre land.

Seed treatment

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

At time of field preparation, apply well decomposed cow dung@60qtl/acre in soil. At time of seed sowing, apply Phosphorus and Potash@30kg/acre in form of SSP@190kg/acre and MOP@50kg/acre, also FYM or cow dung@60qtl/acre. 

Nitrogen is applied in three equal splits. Apply first, second and third dose of nitrogen after 45days, 90days and 120days of seed sowing. 

After plantation, apply first irrigation. It is grown as rainfed crop so provide irrigation depending upon rainfall intensity and rainfall frequency. In absence of rain, provide remaining irrigation at interval of 10days. Overall crop required 16-18 irrigations.

Third day after plantation, take spray of Atrazine@4-5gm/Ltr on moist soil. After weedicide application, cover field with green manure or paddy straw. After planting, to reduce the weed intensity crop is mulched with green leaves@50qtl/acre. Repeat mulching@20qtl/acre after every fertilizer application. Earthing up operation is carried to enhanced root development. 50-60 days after planting take first earthing operation and next after 40 days.

• Diseases and their control:

Root or Rhizome Rot: To prevent crop from root rot, drench crop with Mancozeb@3 gm/Ltr or Metalaxyl@1.25 gm/Ltr at 30,60 and 90 days after planting.

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

Anthracnose: If infestation is observed, to control take spray of Hexaconazole@10 ml or Mancozeb 75WP@25 gm/10 ltr of water+ 10 ml sticker.

Leaf Blotch: If infestation is observed to control take spray of Mancozeb@20 gm or Copper oxycloride@25 gm/10 ltr of water.

Blight and leaf spots: If infestation of blight and leaf spot is observed, take spray of Mancozeb@30 gm or Carbendazim@10 gm in 10 ltr water by interval of 15-20 alternatively. Or spray with Propiconazole@1 ml/Ltr of water.

• Pests and their control:

Rhizome fly: If Infestation of rhizome fly is observed in field, To control take spray of Acephate 75SP@15 gm in 10 ltr of water. Repeat the spray with 15 days interval.

Shoot borer: If infestation of shoot borer is observed to control take spray of Dimethoate@2 ml/Ltr or Quinalphos@2.5 ml/ltr of water.

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

In 8months crop is ready for harvesting. For fresh spice purpose, ginger is harvested from 6th month and if it is to be used for processing, then it is harvested after 8 months. Right time for harvesting of ginger is when leaves gets yellow and dry out completely. Remove rhizomes by dugging and after harvesting clean rhizomes by thoroughly washing in water for 2 to 3 times. Then dry them in shades for 2-3days.

For dry ginger purpose, only the outer skin is to be peeled and then dried in the sun for a week. Outer skin is removed with help of special knife or split bamboos with pointed end. Yield of dry ginger is about 16-25% of green ginger.

Storage: Fresh, disease free rhizomes are selected then treated with solution of Carbendazim + Mancozeb@40 gm/10 ltr of water for 30 min. It will prevent rotting of rhizome in storage. Then dry the rhizomes in shade. Store dried rhizome in pit of convenient size, covered with plank having 2-3 holes for aeration. Before storing rhizomes in pit, spread 1 inch thickness sand layers.