Turmeric is an important spice crop grown on a commerical scale and is in great demand in India and other oriental countries. India occupies a pride of place with an area of 104.5 thousand Hectares producing 323.8 thousand tonnes. Andhra pradesh stands firt in the country with an area of 56.0 thousand hectares producing 384.90 thousand tonnes.

It is mainly cultivated in Krishna, Guntur, Cuddaph, Kurnool, East and West Godavari, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, srikakulam and Visakhapatnam districts of Andhra pradesh.

It is widely used in food as a spice and condiment and also used in Indian medicines and cosmetics.

Climate

Humid climate is congenial. Hence , there is a practice of providing shade to the crop by inter-planting castor.

Optimum time of planting is last week of May for short duration varieties, first fortnight of June for medium duration varieties and second fortnight of July for long duration varities.

Soils

The crop can be grown on a variety of soils ranging from red loams to clay loams and the crop can not withstand water logging or alkalinity in the soils. Rich loamy soils having natural drainage and irrigation facilities are ideal for this crop.

Varieties

LONG DURATION TYPES (9 months)

CLL 326

It is a selection form Mydukur type. Plant grows to 60 cm height. Rhizomes are long, stout, smooth and hard with pale yellow colour, with a curcumin (colour) content of 1.46% . Yield ranges from 25 to 37 t/ha or raw rhizomes with curing percentage of 19.3. It has been found to be the highest yielder in all zones of the State and resistant to leaf blotch.

CLL 327

It is a selection from Telkurpet type and resembles Mydukur type. Curcumin content of rhizomes is 3.0%, Yields equal to that of CLL 326. Curing percentage is 21.8 and this is resistant to leaf blotch diseases.

DUGGIRALA

This variety is popularly grown in Guntur district. It is reputed for fast yellow coloured rhizomes, Yields upto 25 t/ha.

ARMOOR

Popular in Nizamabad district, yields range from 25-30 t/ha and matures in nine months. Rhizomes are reputed for fast yellow color. Yield ranges from 12-18 t/ha.

MEDIUM DURATION TYPES (8 months)>

CLL 317

It is a selection from amruthapani Kothapeta type. Plant grows upto 57 cm. Rhizomes are medium long. Thick with narrow constructions.Cucurmin content is 3.8% yield ranges from 25-35 t/ha and curing percentage is 19.6%. It is resistant to leaf spot and susceptible to leaf blotch.

KESARI

This variety is popular in Cuddapah and Kurnool districts, and a medium duration type ( 8 months). Rhizomes are thick and wrinkled. Yields range from 15-25 t/ha. It is susceptible to leaf spot.

SHORT DURATION TYPES (7 months)

CA 69

It is a selection from Dindrigam type of Orissa and matures in seven months. Plant grows to a height Of 50 cm with dark green toliage. Rhizomes are long. Thin with shiny skin and aroma and curcumin content is 1.46% . Yield ranges from 15 to 20 t/ha. Curing percentage is 26.7%. Crop is tolerant to leaf spot and resistant to leaf blotch disease.

KASTURI

It is popular in agency and Godavari districts. Yields upto 15-20 t/ha and rhizomes are reputed for armatic flavour.

Among the clonal selections Cls NO.2A, Cls NO.9A and G.L. Puram selections (Ca 66J, Ca 66A) yield 23-25 tons per hectare.

SUGUNA (PCT -13)

Suitable for rhizome rot effected areas, 190 days duration yield 29 t/ha curing percentage 20.4

SUDARSANA (PCT -14)

All characteristics similar to that of 'Sugunar' yield 28 t/ha and curing percentage 20.6.

Propagation

Finger rhizomes are found to yield better crop than mother rhizomes. Healthy finger rhizomes of 7 to 8 cm length with sprouting buds have to be selected.

Preparation of land

Turmeric crop requires clean cultivation and fine tilth and to achieve this 6 to 8 ploughings have to be given7. Before the last ploughing basal dose of 25 t/ha. Farmyard manure is applied.

Preparation of Planting Material

Healthy finger rhizomes with sprouting buds are selected and disinfected by dripping in 0.35 Dithane M-45 and 0.5% Malathion for 30 minutes and subsequently air dried.

Planting

About 2,500 kg finger rhizomes are required per hectare andrhizomes are dibbled along with the Country plough. In loamy soils rhizomes are dibbled at 15 cm apart in the plough furrows space 30 cm apart. Land is leveled and flat beds of 3 x 1.8 m size are prepared providing necessary irrigation channels. In heavy soils ridge and furrow system is adopted and rhizomes are sown at 15 to 20 cm spacing behind the plough and ridged by breaking the adjacent ridge. Spacing between ridges is 45 to 60 cm . In low lying areas and in stiff black clay soils planted on raised beds of 1.7 m x 1.2 m x 0.2 length with 30 cm wide channels in between. Planting is done in lines on these raised beds with 30 x 15 cm spacing. Yields are higher in this method than the ridge and furrow method.

Manures and Fertilizers

Turmeric is a heavy feeder and requires heavy manuring during the four months period after planting. Crop requiems 300 kg N, 125 kg P2O5 and 200 kg K2O per hectare in organic and inorganic forms. A minimum of 25 t of farmyard manure need to applied in the last ploughing and the rest of the nutrients have to be supplemented through the basal and top dressing . Entire phosphorous requirement has to be applied Along with farmyard manure while potassium has to be applied in three or four split does. The first dose has to be applied before plant in and the rest applied at regular periods just after each weeding at monthly intervals. Fertilizer application should be completed within 120 days from the time of planting.

Intercultivation

Hand hoeing and weeding are necessary at 60,90, 120 and 150 days after planting in light soils. Immediately the plants have to be earthed up. In black soils where ridge and furrow method of planting and wider spacing are adopted country plough can be worked for earthing up and removal of weeds and followed by weeding in the lines.

Irrigation

The number of irrigation's give nb depends on the condition and type of soil. Fifteen to twenty irrigation's are required for clay soils and upto forty irrigations in sandy loams.

Harvesting and Post-harvest Technology

The main season of harvest fall during February-April depending on the duration of Variety. Complete drying of leaves and speudostem indicate the maturity of the crop.Leaves are cut close to the ground and the fields are irrigated two days.

Name of the Pests/Diseaes	Symptoms of damage	Control measures
1	2	3
PESTS	.	.
Rhizome fly Mimergralla Concruleifrons	Maggots feed on rhizomes by boring Result in dead hearts. Rhizomes also not due to the infestation	Selection of healthy rhizome for planting proper drainage should Be provided. Application of Phonate 10 G 10 kg or Carbofuran 3 G 33 kg/ha (1 kg al/ha) or Spray with Monocrotophos 0.05% 2 ml/l water twice
Beetle pest	This pest cause damage on cured produce in storage by making small holes in rhizomes and feeds on central portion resulting in loss or rhizomes weieght.	Pest can be controlled by durting indicate(0.63% Gamma isomer) once in two months on foliage Endosulfan 4% dust.
Leaf mite (Pogachuru tegulu	It is caused by eriophyid mite which eats away the chiorophyll	These mites can be controlled by Spraying the foliage with Methyl Prathion to EC0.05% l ml/l or water.
Scale Aspidiella hartil C.	Damages the rhizomes the rhizomes bothn In field and in storage sucking the sap.	The pest can be controlled by dipping the seed Rhizomes in 0.5%. Malathion for 30 minutes prior to storage nd at time of sowing.
DISEASES	.	.
Rhizomes rot Early Wit (Dumpa kulu Tegulu)	In early stages of crop growth disease caused decay of pseudostem, resulting in the death of the plant	Rotting of rhizomes can be Minimised by drenching the soil with 0.3% cheshnut compound or 0.3% Dithane M-45 at 15 days I intervals soon after the commencement of the diseases.
Leaf spot (Aaku Mache)	The incidence commences from 40 To 50 days after planting and spreads Rapidly in humid weather. Oval sh- Aped spots with greenish colourIn the center are developed. Affected leaves eventually dry up And yields are reduced.	Disease spread can be arrested by giving 4 to 5 sprays Diathane Z-78 0.2% or Dithane M-45 (0.25 at 15 days interval0
Leaf blotch	This disease appears on leaves as Small, rectangular or irregular brown spots on either side of the leaves and the spots turn to dark brown. In severe cases, crop gives a scorched appearance and the yields are reduced considerably	Disease can be controlled by giving 4 to 5 sprays with Dithane M-45 0.255 or Dithane Z-78 0.25% at 15 days interval.

Before harvest. Underground rhizomes are dug with pickaxes by manual labour . Subsequently clups are gathered and freed of roots and adhering soil. Fingers and other rhizomes are separated in ridge planting crop can be harvested by ploughing and then the rhizomes are gathered.

Curing of fresh Rhizomes

Within a week of harvest rhizomes are subjected to curing process to get the turmeric Of commerce. Mother and finger rhizomes are cured separately. Curing process consists of boiling the rhizomes in water till frothing occurs, with emission of characteristic turmeric odour and fingers becoming soft. Material is subsequently allowed to sun dry for 10-15 days on hard and smooth drying floor till the rhizomes produce metallic sound.

Polishing

For better appearance of the produce the dried produce can be polished in rotating drums.

Storage

The cured produce can be stored in pits of 4 x 3 x 2 m size. Pits are dug in elevated Place and dried for two days Bottom and sides of the pits are thickly lined with grass or Palmyrahmats. Subsequently cured produce is filled in pits and is covered with mats and finally with earth. The materials can be stored for one year..

For preservation of seed rhizomes the material is stored by heaping them under the shade Of trees. Heaps are covered with turmeric leaf and plastered with earth and cow dung mixture .It can be left undisturbed for 2 o 3 months until sowing.