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

In Uttar Pradesh, it is cultivated on small scale. Near about 830 hectare area is under ginger cultivation with productivity of 2.86 MT/ha (2005-06).
 

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.  

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

IISR Varada: It gives high yield of fresh as well as dry ginger yield. It is ready to harvest in 200 days. It gives average yield of 9 ton/acre. 

IISR Mahima: High yielding variety gives bold rhizomes. It is ready to harvest in 200days. Gives average yield of 9.3 ton/acre.

Karthika.

Suprabha: Ready to harvest in 229days.

Suruchi: Ready to harvest in 218days. Gives average yield of 4.6 ton/acre.

IISR Rejatha: Ready to harvest in 200days. Gives average yield of 8.9 ton/acre.

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 solarisation of bed. For that covered bed with polythene sheet for 20-30 days.  At time of plantation, mix Neem cake powdered@25 gram per pit and well mix in soil.
 

Time of sowing
To get higher yield, complete rhizome sowing by First week of May.

Spacing
Sow rhizomes in line and keep distance of 40-45 cm between the row and 30cm between two plants. After rhizome planting, mulching with green leaves@50 quintal/acre is done in field. Second mulching is carried out after 40day with green leaves@20 quintal/acre.

Sowing Depth
Depth should be near about 3-4 cm.

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 5-6.5qtl/acre is sufficient for sowing one acre land.

Seed treatment
Before sowing, carry out rhizome treatment with Mancozeb@3 gram/Litre of water. Dip rhizomes for 30 min in solution. It will protect rhizomes from fungal infestation. After treatment, dry rhizomes in shade for 3-4 hours.

 

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

At time of field preparation, apply well decomposed cow dung@60 quintal/acre in soil. At time of seed sowing, apply N:P:K@24:20:20 kg/acre in form of Urea@52 kg/acre, SSP@125 kg/acre and MOP@35 kg/acre, also FYM or cow dung@60 quintal/acre. Apply second dose of Nitrogen@20 kg (45kg), 45 days after sowing whereas apply third dose of 16 kg (35 kg Urea) 120 day after 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 10 days. Overall crop required 16-18 irrigations.

Third day after plantation, take spray of Atrazine@4-5 gram/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@50 qtl/acre. Repeat mulching@20 qtl/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.

• Disease 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.

• Pest 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 gram/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.