DILL SEEDS

Dill is annual herbaceouse crop having leaves with pleasant smell and warm taste and yellow attractive flowers. The Indian dill is native of Northen India. It looks like fennel plant grows from 2 to 2.5 feet. Its seed and leaves are used as spice. They are used in soups, salads, sausages and pickling. Dill seeds and oil have medicinal property and used for preparing medicine. Oil is extracted from seeds, leaves and stems. India and Pakistan are major dill seed producing countries. In India major dill seeds cultivating states are Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Assam and West Bengal. 
 

Any fertile soil is suitable for dill cultivation. For good growth, it required well drained and rich organic content soils. Ideal pH range for optimum growth is about 5 to 7, and average pH of 6.2.

Haldwani Local: The variety is developed from European Dillseeds.

S 163 and NP 179: Released by IARI, New Delhi.

AD 1: Released by NRCSS (National Research Centre on seeds spices), Ajmer. It gives an average yield of 5.6qtl/acre of seeds. The seeds contain 3.5% oil content.

AD 2: Released by NRCSS (National Research Centre on seeds spices), Ajmer. In irrigated areas, it gives an average yield of 6.8qtl/acre and in rainfed areas, it gives an average yield of 2-3qtl/acre. The seeds contain 3.2% oil content.
 

For good growth and yield it required fine beds. To bring soil to fine tilth, plough land for two three times. Carry out planking operation after every ploughing. 

Time of sowing
In north plain areas and hilly areas, optimum time for sowing is mid-October to end-October but it can also be sown in November month. In upper hilly areas, sowing is done in mid-February to end-March.

Spacing
For European dill seeds use spacing of 60cm between the row and keep plant to plant spacing of 20cm.

For Indian Dill seed variety, use row spacing of 40-50cm and plant spacing of 20cm.

Sowing Depth
Sow the seeds at depth of 3-4cm.

Method of sowing
For sowing generally broadcasting method is used but line sowing is more efficient way of dill seed sowing.
 

Seed Rate
Use 2kg of seeds for sowing one acre land.

Seed treatment
To protect crop from Alternaria Leaf spot, before sowing dip seed in hot water@50oC for 25-30minutes.
 

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

Application of compost manure@4qtl/acre is added in the soil before ploughing. Half dose of nitrogen and full dose of phosphorus and potash is added at the time of sowing. Rest of the dose is added after 30-35 days of first dose. 

For good germination, apply pre-sowing irrigation. Apply second irrigation 10-15days after sowing. Depending upon requirement provide subsequent irrigation. Flowering stage is crucial stage for irrigation. Avoid moisture stress during this period. 

If dill is cultivated for culinary purpose, avoid use of weedicide. Hand weeding is done to keep field weed free. 30-40days after sowing carry out first weeding operation.

• Pest and their control:
  

Hornworm: These are bluish green caterpillar, 4 inch long, feeds on dill leaves. If horn worm is observed and infestation is low, then remove it by hand picking.

• Disease and their control:
  

Alternaria blight: Leaves get discolored and drop from plant. Some time they seed borne. Seedling and older leaves are more susceptible to this disease.

To avoid its infestation, do crop rotation, don’t sow dill crop continuously on same field. Use clean seeds. Before sowing, dip seed in hot water@50°C for 25-30min. If infestation is observed, do foliar application of Mancozeb@3gm/ltr of water.

The crop is ready for harvest in the first week of May. When its umbel color changes to light yellow, plant is ready for harvesting. Harvesting is usually carried out in morning, it will gives better flavor to seed also minimize shattering loss. After harvesting, threshing is carried out.