GINGER

Cultivation practices

Season of planting

The best time for planting ginger in the West Coast of India is during the first fortnight of May with the receipt of pre-monsoon showers. Under irrigated conditions, it can be planted well in advance during the middle of February or early March.

Land preparation

Burning the surface soil and early planting with the receipt of summer showers results in higher yield and reduces disease incidence. The land is to be ploughed 4 to 5 times or dug thoroughly with receipt of early summer showers to bring the soil to fine tilth. Beds of about 1 m width, 15 cm height and of convenient length are prepared with an inter-space of 50 cm in between beds. In the case of irrigated crop, ridges are formed 40 cm apart. In areas prone to rhizome rot disease and nematode infestations, solarization of beds for 40 days using transparent polythene sheets is recommended.

Planting

The seed rhizomes are planted at a spacing of 20-25 cm along the rows and 20-25 cm between the rows. The seed rhizome bits are placed in shallow pits prepared with a hand hoe and covered with well rotten farmyard manure and a thin layer of soil and leveled.

Weeding and mulching

Weeding is done just before fertilizer application and mulching; 2-3 weedings are required depending on the intensity of weed growth. Proper drainage channels are to be provided when there is stagnation of water. Earthing up is essential to prevent exposure of rhizomes and provide sufficient soil volume for free development of rhizomes. The first weeding is done just before the second mulching and repeated depending on the intensity of weed growth. If necessary, weeding is to be repeated for a third time.

Mulching of ginger beds with green leaves is an important operation for ginger, which enhances germination, increases organic matter and conserves soil moisture and prevents washing of soil due to heavy rains. Apart from being a source of organic manure, it helps in soil and water conservation. The first mulching is done at the time of planting with 8.5 tonnes of green leaves per ha and a second mulching done after 40 days with 8.5 tonnes of green leaves per ha.

Rotation and inter-cropping of ginger

The crops most commonly rotated with ginger in Kerala are tapioca, chillies, dry paddy, gingelly etc. Ragi, groundnut, maize are other crops rotated with ginger.

Ginger is also grown as an inter-crop in coconut and arecanut gardens. The employment generated in inter-cropping has been estimated as 108 man and 24 woman days. This is in addition to the requirement of man women days required for the main crop of arecanut and coconut. The additional income was Rs. 5,000/ha.