It is easy to grow ginger plants. A detailed account of growing practices for ginger plants is given below:
Commercial Varieties: There are several ginger varieties available for cultivation. Major commercial varieties of ginger are ‘China’, ‘Maran’, ‘Himachal’, ‘Rio-de-Janeiro’, ‘Nadia’, ‘Thingpuri’, ‘Narasapattam’, ‘Wynad Manantoddy’, ‘Karkal’, ‘Vengara’, ‘Ernad Manjeri’, ‘Ernad Chemad’ and ‘Burdwan’.
However in international spice trading markets, one can see ginger varieties named after the places of their production. In these markets, Jamaican ginger (ginger produced in Jamaica) is considered as the best variety. Then there is Kenya ginger which has also got good market. African and Indian ginger varieties which have comparatively darkish brown skin are considered inferior in quality. Another ginger variety is Japanese ginger.
Climate: Ginger is a shade-loving, tropical plant with preference for wet to moist areas; it cannot stand direct scorching sunlight, frost, very low temperatures, waterlogged soil and strong winds. Ideal climate for ginger cultivation is warm, humid, tropical and subtropical climate. It can be grown up to an altitude of 1500 meters from MSL (mean sea level).
Soil: Well-drained, rich and moist soil with plenty of organic matter is the most ideal soil for ginger cultivation.
Light: Ginger prefers filtered sunlight and hence grows well in partially shaded locations.
Crop Rotation: Ginger can be grown both as a rainfed crop and as an irrigated crop. In irrigated crop, ginger crop can be rotated with turmeric, low-growing vegetables such as onion and garlic, fruit trees such as plantain and banana, betel vine crop, chillies, groundnut, maize and sugarcane. In rainfed crop, ginger crop may be rotated with tapioca, sweet potato, yam and dry paddy once in 3 or 4 years.
Ginger as an Intercrop: Ginger crop may be raised as an intercrop among coffee, coconut, areca nut and orange plantations.
Ginger as a Mixed Crop: Ginger crop may be raised as a mix crop along with shade-giving plants such as plantain, banana, and tree castor.
Propagation: Propagation is by planting rhizome (modified underground stem) cuttings directly in the main field. Each rhizome cutting weighing 15-30 grams and having at least 2-3 well developed growth buds is planted.
Field Preparation: Field is prepared by ploughing twice or thrice followed by levelling and ridge making. It is always better to plant ginger rhizomes on the raised beds.
In tropical countries such as India, land preparation begins during March and April. Land is ploughed into a deep fine tilth and raised beds of 15 cm height and 1 meter width and of convenient length up to 5 or 6 meter are prepared. Soil solarization is done before planting as a preventive measure. Soil solarization process kills all plant pathogens present in the soil.
Planting for Rainfed Crop: A spacing of 30 cm is given between two ridges/raised beds. Shallow pits are prepared on the ridges to plant rhizome cuttings which are planted in two rows. Row to row distance is 30 cm and plant to plant distance within a row is 15-20 cm.
Planting for Irrigated Crop: A spacing of 45-50 cm is given between two ridges/raised beds. Shallow pits are prepared on top of the ridges in a single row to plant rhizome cuttings. Plant to plant distance within a row is 25 -30 cm.
Sowing Depth: Rhizome cuttings are normally planted approximately 5- 10 cm deep into the pits with the growing buds up and then it is covered by a thin layer of soil.
Rate of Planting Materials Required: Approximately 2 tons of rhizome cuttings are required to plant one hectare of land. That is, about 750-1000 Kg seed rhizomes are required to plant one acre.
Planting Time: Late winter or Early Spring (March to May) is the best time for planting ginger rhizomes.
Fertilizer and Manure Application: Ginger is a heavy feeder and hence requires heavy manuring. Application of 5-10 tons of farmyard manure or compost per acre at the time of field preparation is recommended. Subsequently, vermicompost or any other organic fertilizer available locally, may be applied @500 Kg/acre. Recommended N, P, K (nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium) fertilizer doses are 75:50:50 Kg/hectare. Whole phosphorous and half potassium fertilizers are applied at the time of planting. Remaining half potassium and half nitrogen fertilizers are applied two months after planting. Remaining half dose of nitrogen fertilizer is applied one month after second application of fertilizers. In some parts of the world, farm yard manure or neem cake or castor cake @4-5 t/ha is used in 2-3 top dressings.
Irrigation: For irrigated crop, first irrigation is done soon after planting; subsequent irrigations are given just to keep the soil moist throughout the growth phase of ginger plants. Water logged or soggy soils should be avoided. For rainfed crop, moist leaf mulch (of dried or green leaves) is spread over the beds soon after planting. In certain areas, farm yard manure is used as mulch. New shoots emerge within 2-3 weeks after planting.
Mulching of the Ginger Beds: Mulching is an important cultural practice while growing ginger. At least two or three mulching are required during the growth period of a ginger plantation. First mulching is done soon after planting rhizome cuttings. Mulching with green leaves is highly recommended as this practice is proved to be more beneficial for ginger growth. Second mulching is done after first weeding and hoeing practices are over, which is about 40-50 days after planting. Third mulching is done after second weeding and hoeing practices are over, which is about 40-50 days after second mulching. Subsequent weeding and hoeing, and mulching practices are done as and when necessary.
Interculture and Aftercare: Hoeing and weeding are done to keep the field weed-free. It is recommended to mulch the beds thickly with biodegradable mulch soon after planting rhizome cuttings. This biomulch effectively controls weeds as well as conserves moisture.
Insect-Pest Management: Ginger is susceptible to spider mite attack in a dry weather; organic insecticides based on pyrethrum or tobacco extracts may be used to control them. Other major pests that are found attacking ginger are shoot borer (Conogethes punctiferalis/ Dicrhosis punctiferalis), nematodes, and white grub (Holotrichia setticolis). For controlling shoot borers, regular field surveillance is required which needs to be followed up by proper phyto-sanitary measures. Another option is hand picking of caterpillars and destroying them. Some growers grow neem trees in ginger plantations because of the insect-repellant properties of the neem trees.
For controlling nematodes, application of neem cake @1ton/ha is recommended. Two applications are required one during planting and second application 45 days after planting. White grub (Holotrichia setticolis) may be controlled by tillage of fields particularly during summer and by solarization of fields. Setting up of bird perches, other bird attractants and light traps and handpicking of infested leaves and grubs may also effectively control white grub infestation.
Disease Management: Soft rot or rhizome rot caused by Pythium aphanidermatum and Pythium myriotylum is a major disease found affecting ginger rhizomes. For effective control of this disease, the following cultural practices may be followed:
- Selection of planting materials from disease free areas
- Ensuring proper drainage of fields
- Soil sterilization by solarization
- Sanitation of fields by burning of infected plants
- Removal of affected plants
- Application of Trichoderma viride at the time of planting mixed with farm yard manure
- Restricted use of popular fungicide Bordeaux mixture (1%) in the areas susceptible to this disease
Another major ginger disease is bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum/ Pseudomonas solanacearum. Selection of disease free planting materials and crop rotation of ginger with maize, cotton, and soybean may effectively control this disease.
Days to Maturity: It takes about 8-10 months for a ginger plantation to reach maturity.
Harvesting: Harvesting is done when the leaves have completely withered and the rhizomes are still tender and immature with outer skin still has a slight greenish colour. Rhizomes are carefully lifted by a digging-fork. Care is taken while lifting the rhizomes to avoid any sort of bruises and mechanical injuries of the rhizomes.
Curing of Freshly Harvested Ginger Rhizomes: Curing is an important post-harvest practice in gingers. Freshly harvested ginger rhizomes are transported to pack houses where they are cleaned. All dirt and adhering fibrous roots are removed. Rhizomes with plump buds normally called as ‘seed gingers’ are segregated and stored for next planting season. Remaining commercially acceptable rhizomes are graded and packed before marketing them as ‘fresh ginger’.
For dry ginger, fresh gingers are soaked in water to facilitate peeling process. Peeled rhizomes are dried in the sun before marketing them as ‘dry ginger’.
Yield: Yield varies depending on the variety, soil fertility, cultural practices and prevailing climatic conditions. Approximately a ginger plantation may yield 10-15 tons of fresh ginger per hectare. Dry ginger recovery is about 20-30 percent depending upon the variety used.
Storage: Fresh ginger can be stored in a refrigerator or in cold storage for several weeks without losing its freshness. Dried and powdered ginger may be stored in airtight containers in a cool, dry place for a number of years.
Seed ginger is best stored by keeping them in pits which are dug in a cool place, away from sun and rain. Before storing them, they are treated with an effective fungicide as a preventive measure against soft rot and other soil-borne fungal infections. Seed gingers thus treated are then dried in shade and placed in pits which are about one meter in depth. A layer of sand or saw dust is placed in the pit before placing seed gingers and after placing the seed gingers, the pit is covered with a wooden plank while providing maximum aeration for the stored gingers.
In higher altitudes, seed ginger may safely be stored in an underground storage chamber until next planting season.
Storage Disorders: Rhizome rot (common among bruised rhizomes), shrivelling and drying of rhizomes, dry rot and sprouting of rhizomes are observed during storage.
Grading: Grading of ginger is mainly done depending on its dry matter content and fiber content. Ginger roots having highest dry matter and lowest fiber is regarded as the best grade or Grade 1. Poorest graded ginger roots contain higher fiber content and low dry matter content.
Ginger as a Garden Plant: Ginger plant is very popular as a kitchen garden plant in many tropical and subtropical gardens. It is very easy to grow ginger plants in containers. Ginger plants are suitable for hydroponics or soil-less gardening also.
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