Spices and Condiments (1+1)

Irrigation, interculture and intercropping

Irrigation

• Turmeric can be grown either as a rain-fed crop (Kerala, Orissa and North-Eastern states) or as an irrigated crop (Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu), depending on the location.
  
• In the case of the irrigated crop, depending on weather and soil conditions, 15-40 irrigations may be necessary at 7-10 days' intervals.
Mulching

• Immediately after planting, the field is mulched with green leaves at 15 t/ha. This is repeated after 50 days of planting when the rhizomes have fully sprouted.
Inter-culture

• Weeds should be controlled manually or by the use of herbicides.
  
• Usually, weeding is done thrice, at 60, 120 and 150 days after planting, depending upon the weed intensity.
  
• Early weeding may be avoided by the use of 2,4-D as a pre-emergent herbicide. Earthing-up is done 60 days after planting.
Inter-cropping and crop rotation

• Turmeric also comes up well under sparse shade. It can be grown as an inter-crop in coconut gardens like ginger or as a mixed crop with red gram, chilli, colocasia, vegetables, maize and ragi.
  
• In wetlands, it can be rotated with paddy, sugarcane, banana or vegetables.
  
• In garden lands, rotation is done with rain-fed paddy or mixed with red gram, maize, groundnut and sunflower.