Spices and Condiments (1+1)

Cultivation land preparation and sowing

Propagation
Cumin is propagated through seeds and the seed rate varies with the method of sowing. The broadcast method requires more and the line sowing requires less quantity of seeds.

Land preparation
The root system of the crop is confined to the upper six inches and, hence, shallow cultivation is advised. The porousness and friableness of the soil plays a very vital role in germination and crop growth. The land is prepared well by ploughing and planking. Plots of 2 x 2.5 m are made after the final preparation of land, just before sowing.

Sowing
The best time for sowing is the first fortnight of November. If the soil moisture is not adequate, a pre-sowing light irrigation should be given prior to the tillage operations. However, sowing can be done up to 15th December. The late sowing of the crop results in reduced in yield and increased infestation of insect pests and diseases. The sowing of seeds can be done either by broadcasting or line sowing.
In case of the broadcasting method of sowing, generally 10-20 kg seeds/ha is required, whereas in line sowing 9-12 kg seeds/ha is needed. In order to hasten germination, soaking the seeds with Potassium nitrate (100 ppm) for 24 hours is best. Seed treatment before sowing is a must, which can be done by using Agrosan GN or Difoltan at 3 g per kg of seed. Line sowing is done at 22.5 to 30 cm x 15 cm spacing and is preferred over broadcasting. The depth of sowing should be 1.5 to 2 cm. Normally, if sowing is done properly, the seeds germinate in 5-7 days.
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