GARLIC

Garlic a popular bulb crop cultivated throughout Asia. It is used as spice in many dishes. Also it possess excellent medicinal properties. It is a rich source of 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. 

Bhima Omkar: Ready to harvest in 120-135 days. 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. Number of cloves are 15-16 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.

Other States Variety

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

VL Garlic 1: Bulbs are of whitish color. 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
For Rajasthan, optimum time for garlic sowing is from October to November month.

Spacing
For sowing use row to row spacing of 15cm and plant to plant spacing of 7-8cm. 
 
Sowing Depth
Sow garlic cloves at depth of 4-5cm keeping their growing heads upward.

Method of sowing
For sowing of garlic use dibbling method.

Seed Rate
For sowing one acre land, seed rate of 2-2.5qtl is sufficient. 

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 80-100qtl/acre of Farm Yard Manure or well decomposed cowdung at time of land preparation. Apply Nitrogen@40kg, Phophorus@24kg and Potash@40kg in form of Urea@90kg and Single Super Phosphate@150kg and Muriate of Potash@66kg per acre. Apply whole quantity of Phosphorus and Potash and half dose Nirogen before garlic sowing. Apply remaining amount of Nitrogen one month after sowing.

WSF: 10-15 days after transplanting, sprayed NPK 19:19:19 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. 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.

• Pest and their control:
  

Thrips: If 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@30ml/15Ltr water or Profenophos@10ml or Carbosulfan@10ml/10Ltr water by 8-10days 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@900gm or Phorate@4kg to the soil and give light irrigation. Apply Chlorpyriphos @1Ltr/acre along with irrigation water or sand.

• Disease and their control:

Purple blotch and stemphylium 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@350gm/acre/150Ltr of water, twice at 10days intervals.

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 atleast 15 days before harvesting. Plants are pull 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 3-4month at temperature of 0-2°C and 65-70% relative humidity.