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.

Maharashtra contribute near about four to six ton of garlic production with productivity of 12ton per hectare.
 

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. 

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

Agrifound White (G-41): Ready to harvest in 150-190days. Gives average yield of 52-56qtl/acre.

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

Yamuna Safed 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.

Agrifound Parvati (G 313): Ready to harvest in 250-270days. Gives average yield of 70-80qtl/acre. 70-80qtl/acre.

Godavari (Selection 2): Ready to harvest in 140-145days after sowing. Gives average yield of 40-42qtl/acre.

Sweta (Selection 10): cloves are bright silver white color. Ready to harvest in 130-135days. Gives average yield of 40-42qtl/acre.

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

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

Phule Baswant: Ready to harvest in 135-140days. Bulb are attractive white color. Gives average yield of 40-45qtl/acre.

Other state varieties:

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.

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.

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

T 56-4: Gives average yield of 32 to 40qtl/acre.

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

Give three to four deep ploughing and bring soil to fine tilth. Add well decomposed cow dung@60qtl/acre to increase organic content of soil at time of last ploughing. Then levelled and soil divide into small plots and channels. For sowing flat bed or broad bed furrow can be used.

Time of sowing
In Maharashtra, mid-October to end-November is optimum time for garlic sowing.

Spacing
For sowing, use row to row spacing of 30cm and plant to plant spacing of 15cm. Also avoid two closer and too wider spacing.  

Sowing Depth
Sow garlic cloves at depth of 2 to 4cm keeping their growing heads upward.

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

Seed Rate
For sowing in one acre land, use 120-200kg of cloves of 8-10mm diameter and having 1 to 1.5gm weight.

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 Nitrogen@30kg, Phophorus@16kg and Potash@16kg in form of Urea@65kg and Single Super Phosphate@100kg and Muriate of Potash@30kg per acre. Apply whole quantity of Phosphorus and Potash and one third of Nitrogen at time of planting. Apply remaining amount of Nitrogen in two equal splits, i.e. 30 to 45days after sowing.

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

In areas having zinc deficiency, apply Zinc Sulphate@4kg/acre at time of sowing.
 

Depending upon climatic conditions and soil type decide irrigation amount and frequency. Apply first irrigation immediately after sowing. At vegetative stage, apply irrigation at interval of seven to eight days where as at stage of reproductive apply irrigation at interval of 10-15days. Tuber formation is very crucial stage for irrigation. When crop gets mature, stop irrigation 10-15days before harvesting.

Initially garlic seedlings grow slowly. So better to use chemical herbicides than hand weeding to avoid injury. To control weeds take Pre-emergence spray of Pendimethalin@900ml/acre or Oxyflorfen@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 is to be done one month after first hand weeding.

• Pest and their control:
  

Thrips: If it is not controlled properly, can cause yield loss up to 50%. Mostly observed in dry weather. They suck sap from the foliage and results in curling of leaves, leaves become cup shaped or curved upward.

To check severity of thrips incidence, keep blue sticky traps @6-8 per acre. If infestation observed in field take spray of Fipronil@30 ml/15 Ltr water or Profenophos@10 ml or Carbosulfan@10 ml+ Mancozeb@25 gm/10 Ltr water by 8-10 days interval.

Maggots: Infestation observed in January-February Month. They feed on roots cause browning of leaves. Base of plant become watery.

If infestation is observed, apply Carbaryl@4 kg or Phorate@4 kg to the soil and give light irrigation. Apply Chlorpyriphos @1 Ltr/acre alongwith irrigation water or sand.

• Disease and their control:
  

Purple blotch and stem phylium blight: In severe infestation may cause yield loss up to 70%. Deep purple lesions are observed on leaves. Yellow streaks get turn brown and extend along the blade.

Take spray of Propineb70%WP@350 gm/acre/150 ltr of water, twice at 10 days interval.

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.

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 3-4 month at temperature of 0-2°C and 65-70% relative humidity.