Spices and Condiments (1+1)

Cultivation land preparation and sowing

Importance of Soil fertility

 
Propagation
Coriander is propagated by seed. Before sowing the fruits are rubbed until the two mesocarps are separated and then sown.

Land preparation and sowing
The land should be well prepared by ploughing 3 to 4 times and brought to a fine tilth. For an irrigated crop, beds and channels of convenient size (3 x 2 m) are formed. The seed rate requirement in coriander varies from 10-15 kg for irrigated and 25-30 kg per hectare for rain-fed crops.
The seeds that are stored for 15-30 days exhibit an early and better germination. At the time of sowing, the seeds are trampled or crushed into halves with the foot or by rubbing with hands. The seeds are then treated with Agrosan-GN or any other mercurial fungicide or Carbendazim at 2 g per kg of seeds.
Sowing is done either by broadcasting or by drills in rows at 20-30 x 10 cm spacing. The seeding depth should not exceed 3.0 cm. The broadcasted seeds are raked up to mix them with the soil. Soaking the seeds in cold water for 12-24 hours can also be done to hasten the germination process before sowing.
 Soaking seeds in a solution of 50 ppm Gibberellic Acid is beneficial. Seeds soaked in 1% Potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution or in 2% leaf extract of Calotropis and Prosopis registered an improved germination and seedling growth especially in the rain-fed crop. The seed germination is rather slow and may take 10-15 days. The thinning of plants is done after 30 days of sowing leaving only two plants per hill.