Selection of Seed Ginger and Seed Treatment – Advisory from Krishi Vigyan Kendra

This year too, both the number of farmers cultivating ginger and the area under cultivation are expected to increase. Photo/The Kodagu Express

Ginger is an important spice crop. Its rhizomes are used as a spice and for their medicinal properties. It is widely used in cooking, soups and pickles to enhance flavour and aroma. Ginger is also used in the preparation of medicines and extraction of essential oils. In Kodagu district, the area under ginger cultivation has been increasing year after year. It is common to see farmers leasing fallow lands to grow ginger.

This year too, both the number of farmers cultivating ginger and the area under cultivation are expected to increase. However, growing ginger without scientific knowledge often results in severe disease incidence, leading to crop loss. It is common for farmers to purchase seed ginger brought by others from different places without verifying its health status. Planting diseased seed rhizomes makes it extremely difficult to control rhizome rot and soft rot diseases later. The purpose of seed treatment is to protect the crop at the initial stage from rhizome rot, soft rot and scale insect infestation.

To assist ginger growers, ICAR–Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Gonikoppal, has issued comprehensive guidelines on selecting seed ginger and carrying out proper seed treatment before planting to ensure a disease-free crop.

Precautions while selecting seed ginger:

Select only healthy, fresh, disease- and pest-free rhizomes. Avoid shrivelled, rotten or black-spotted rhizomes.

Use rhizome pieces weighing 30–35 grams (minimum) and up to 100 grams (maximum). Avoid very small pieces.

Each seed piece should have at least 1–2 and up to 4–5 healthy buds. Buds should be green and fresh.

Rhizomes should be yellowish or pale in colour and firm when pressed.

Prefer seeds from fields where no disease was observed in the previous crop.

Select locally suitable, high-yielding and disease-resistant varieties.

Store seed rhizomes in a dry, well-ventilated, shaded place. Avoid direct sunlight.

Do not use old or dried rhizomes.

Do not use prematurely harvested ginger. Select seed rhizomes that are 270–300 days old.

Seed treatment before storage:

For 200 kg of seed ginger, mix either 200 ml Propiconazole, or 400 g Carbendazim + Mancozeb, or 600 g Mancozeb along with 400 ml Quinalphos in 200 litres of water. Soak the rhizomes for 30 minutes. Remove and shade-dry for 15 minutes before storing in a well-ventilated place.

For organic cultivation, mix 10 g of Pseudomonas per litre of water (or per kg of seed). Soak the rhizomes for 30 minutes, shade-dry for 30 minutes and then plant.

Seed treatment before planting:

Before planting, soak seed rhizomes in a solution of 400 g Metalaxyl + Mancozeb mixed in 200 litres of water for 30 minutes. Remove, shade-dry for 15 minutes and then plant.

Points to remember:

Use only disease-free seed rhizomes.

Select well-drained fields where water does not stagnate.

Ensure soaking for a full 30 minutes during treatment.

Do not remove rhizomes from fungicide solution prematurely or skip shade-drying.

If reusing the same solution, add 50% of the recommended fungicide and insecticide again.

Use only the recommended fungicides and insecticides. Do not mix other chemicals.

For more information, contact:

ICAR–Krishi Vigyan Kendra

Gonikoppal, Kodagu District

Phone: 08274-295274

The author is a Subject Matter Specialist in Plant Protection at the ICAR–Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Gonikoppal, Ponnampet taluk, Kodagu. He can be reached at iihrkvkgk@gmail.com

(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Kodagu Express.)

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