Turmeric

Water Management

Importance of water

  • Water is a prime resource which fulfills a number of significant functions.
  • Unlike most other natural resources, water does not have substitute in its main uses.
  • It can be used more or less lavishly or efficiently, but it can not be replaced.
  • It is indispensable, finite and vulnerable resource.
  • Virtually no activity in life is possible in the absence of water.

Irrigation

  • Irrigation is the artificial application of water to soil for the purpose of crop production.
  • Irrigation water is supplied to supplement the water available from rainfall and for the contribution to soil moisture from ground water.
  • In many areas of the world, the amount and timings of rainfall are not adequate to meet the moisture requirement of crops and so irrigation is essential to raise crops necessary to the needs of food, fibre, etc.
  • The increasing need for crop production for the growing population is causing the rapid expansion of irrigation throughout the world.
  • Water, being a limited resource, its efficient use is basic to the survival of the ever increasing population of the world.

Rainfall distribution of Tamil Nadu

Season
Distribution of normal annual rainfall (cm)
Winter (Jan - Feb) 6
Summer (March - May) 12
South West Monsoon (June - Sept.) 27
North East Monsoon (Oct. - Dec.)
53
Total
98

  • Turmeric is grown as rainfed crop in high rainfall areas.
  • Irrigation is required, if there is moisture stress due to lack of adequate rainfall.
  • It Tamil Nadu, Erode, Coimbatore, Salem, Namakkal and Dharmapuri are the major turmeric growing districts, which come under Western and North Western Agroclimatic zones of Tamil Nadu with annual rainfall of 718 mm and 875 mm respectively.
  • In these zones, well irrigation is high (78 per cent in North Western zones and 59 per cent in Western zones).
  • As turmeric requires assured water supply almost throughout the year, it is mainly grown in lift irrigated areas in Tamil Nadu.
  • The area as well as productivity of turmeric declines during water scarcity period, since turmeric requires frequent irrigations during the cropping period.
  • Till sprouting is completed, light irrigations at weekly intervals are essential.
  • Since it is very susceptible to water logging, excess water during rainy season should be drained out, otherwise it may cause rhizome rot.
  • Depending on the type of soil and climatic conditions, irrigated crop requires 15 to 20 irrigations in medium heavy soils and 35 to 40 in light textured red soils.
  • Moisture stress affects the growth and development of the plant especially during the rhizome bulking stage.

Schedule of irrigation to turmeric crop

Crop growth phase
Duration (months) Soil type Number of irrigations
Interval (days)
Germination 1 Heavy 3 8-10
    Light 4 7-8
Moderate vegetative growth 1 1/2 Heavy 4 10-12
  Light 6 7-8
Active vegetative growth
2 1/2 Heavy 6 10-15
    Light 10 7-8
Slow vegetative growth 2 Heavy 4 10-15
    Light 8 7-8
Approaching senescence 2 Heavy 4 10-15 7-8
    Light 8 7-8

  • In addition to well irrigation, river and tank irrigations are also followed wherever possible.
  • Growing turmeric under improved irrigation practice of using 5 cm depth of water plus application of coir pith 10 tons/ha as mulch saves water upto 44 % over normal farmers practice (ridges and furrows).

Drip irrigation

  • Drip irrigation daily at 40 per cent surface irrigation with 75 per cent recommended level of nitrogen through fertigation was found to be the most economical treatment wherein 60 per cent of irrigation water and 25 per cent nitrogen could be saved besides an yield increase of 25 per cent compared to the conventional method of irrigation.
  • Drip irrigation, not only ensures the highest economy in water use owing to reduced evaporation and seepage losses, but also provides ideal moisture regime for higher yield in turmeric.
  • Drip irrigation given daily @ 0.36IW/CPE ratio consumed only 650mm of water & yield 36.5t/ha of rhizome.

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Tamilnadu

Turmeric

Turmeric Management