Garlic (Allium sativum) in India is also known as ‘Lahsoon’. Garlic is an important bulb crop grown and used as a spice or condiment throughout India. It is mainly cultivated in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Orissa, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu. But 50% of the total production is only from Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat states. Garlic has medicinal use in sore eyes, cough, and lung diseases. It is used in vegetables and meat to give flavour as a spice. In this chapter, you will read in detail about its cultivation.

Other Name:- Lahsoon, Lahsun, Lassan, Poodu

Botanical Name: – Allium sativum

Family: – Alliaceae / Lilliaceae / Amaryllidaceae

Chromosome No.: – 2n=16

Origin: – Central Asia

Edible part: – Bulb (Cloves)

Important Points

• The aroma in garlic is due to Diallyl disulphide.
• China ranks first in Production.
• Cultivated Indian varieties are short-day types.
• Egypt ranks first in productivity.
• India ranks third in production and second in the area in the world.
• An antibacterial substance Allicin present in garlic.
• The water-soluble amino acid present in garlic- Allin.
• Garlic is sexually sterile diploid.
• Longer day lengths of 12 hr or more give higher bulb yield.
• Garlic is used to cure whooping cough, lung diseases, ulcers, sore eyes, earaches and disorders resulting from childbirth.
• It contains 62.2 gm moisture, 6.3 gm protein, 29.0 gm carbohydrates, 30.0mg calcium 0.16mg Riboflavin, and 13.00 mg Vitamin C per 100g edible portion.
• Curing:- A process to remove excess moisture.

Area and Production

• It is mainly cultivated in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Orissa, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu.
• 50% of the total production only from Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat states.
• In India garlic is grown in an area of 3,17,000 ha with 16,11,000 MT production. 

Varieties

• Agrifound white (G-41) TSS-41, grown in MH
• Agrifound Parvati G-313)- long day, suitable for northern hills, big-sized cloves.
• Godavari
• Yamuna Safed (G-1)- TSS 38-40, suitable for North India.
• Yamuna Safed-2 (G-50)
• HG-1:- Suitable for Haryana
• HG-6
• Pusa Selection-10
• Solan Type 56-4
• Sweta
• BLG-7
• G-51
• G-282 -Big-size clove

Climate

Garlic is a hardy crop and tolerant to frost. The climatic requirement of garlic is similar to onion and in India, it is mainly cultivated in the winter season. It prefers a mild climate which is not so hot nor cool. Garlic Requires a cool and moist climate at the time of plant growth and a dry climate at maturity. The critical day length for bulb development is 12 hours. Indian varieties perform better in short-day conditions.

Soil

Garlic can be grown in all types of soil such as light sandy loam to heavy clay but loam soil is best for cultivation. Soil should be rich in organic matter, deep and fertile. In light or loose soil poor bulb development and in heavy soil misshaped bulbs. Soil pH ranges should be between 6-7. Garlic is sensitive to highly acidic and alkaline soils.

Sowing Time

• North India – September-October
• Hills- March-April
• South India- August- November

Seed Rate

About 500-700 Kg cloves are needed for one hectare.

Sowing Method

There are three methods of garlic sowing

1. Dibbling:- Garlic healthy cloves are generally planted by dibbling method 5-7.5cm deep, 7.5 cm apart from each other in rows 15 cm apart, and then covered with a layer of soil. Immediately after sowing irrigates the crop.
2. Furrow Planting:- In this method 15 cm apart furrows are made with the help of a small hand hoe or cotton seed drill. In furrow, cloves are dropped with a hand about 8-10 cm apart and covered with soil followed by irrigating the crop.
3. Broadcasting Method:- In this method field is divided into convenient-sized flat beds. Then the cloves are broadcast or spread with hand all the bed evenly and covered with soil by harrowing. After sowing irrigate the crop immediately.

Manure and fertilizers

Generally, 50 tonnes/ha FYM should be added at the time of first ploughing. Garlic is a heavy feeder of manures and fertilizers. Garlic requires 100 Kg/ha N, 50 Kg/ha of P and K each. It requires micronutrients in small amounts viz. 5 Kg/ha B, 5 Kg/ha Zn, and 5 Kg/ha Mo. Half a dose of N, and a full dose of P, K, B, Zn, and Mo should be applied at the time of sowing. The remaining dose of N is given one month after sowing as a top dressing. Some studies say that a 75 kg/ha fertilizer mixture of NPK as a ratio of 18:2:3 should be added to soil at the time of sowing to increase yield along with 5 kg/ha B, Zn, and Mo each.

Irrigation

The first irrigation is given to the crop immediately after the sowing of cloves. The crop should be irrigated at an interval of 10–15 days until the climate is warm. After that, the crop should be irrigated at short intervals. Soil moisture is required at the time of bulb growth if moisture stress at that time will adversely affect bulb growth. The crop should be irrigated 3-4 days before harvesting so that the bulb can be dug easily.

Weed Control

Garlic is a shallow-rooted crop so frequent shallow cultivation should be given to the soil to kill the weeds and loosen the soil around the plant. Generally, 2-3 hoeing cum weeding is done during the initial 1^st 2 months of growth. Some post-emergence herbicides like Simazine or Dizuron (0.75-1.0Kg/ha) are also effective in controlling weeds.

Use of PGR

Harvesting

Garlic should be harvested when leaves turn yellow or dry. The crop should be irrigated 3-4 days before harvesting so that the bulb can be dug easily. The bulbs are lifted with a spade or khupi, free from earth, and make a bundle by tying the top leaves. These bundles for curing are put in the shade for 3-4 days. After curing, top leaves are removed and stored in ordinary rooms.

Yield

The yield ranges between 10-20 t / ha depending upon the variety, soil, and applied fertilizers.

Insect pest management

1. Thrips (Thrips tabacii):- Yellowish small insect sacs the sap from leaves and silver-colored strips or brown spots are seen on leaves.

Control

• Spray with 0.05% Monocrotophos, or Methyl demeton or Neem carnal oil.

2. Onion Fly or Maggots (Delia antiqua):- Small grey flies such as house flies lay an egg in the soil around the plant. After the attack of this insect turn lower leaves yellow.

Control

• Spray on the crop with 0.1 % Malathion to control the onion fly.

Disease management

1. Purple Blotch (Alternaria porri): The most favourable temperature for the disease is 28°-30°C. This disease is more prevalent when heavy rainfall or planting is done in closer spacing. Purplish spots are seen on leaves.

Control

• When the disease has been seen spray with Endofil M-45 @ 2.5 gm/Littre of water at 10-15 days intervals.

Physiological disorders

1. Bulb sprouting: – Sprouting is a major problem in long-term storage.

Causes

• Use of excess nitrogen in the field
• High soil moisture during harvesting.

Management

• Avoided excess irrigation
• Apply a recommended dose of nitrogen fertilizers.
• Maintain proper storage facilities like ventilation, temperature, humidity
• Proper curing of the bulb before storage.

2. Splitting:- Splitting is also a major disorder of garlic when delayed in harvesting. In this disorder, bulb does not remain compact and it bursts.

Management

Harvesting should be done at the right stage or time.