By Frank Kamuntu
Garlic is one of the important bulb crops. It is used as a spice or condiment. The compound bulb of garlic consists of several small bulblets or cloves.
Best Soil For Garlic Plantation
Garlic can be grown in different types of soil. However, sandy, silt, and clay loam are recommended for commercial production. The soil should be fertile, rich in organic matter, well-drained, and capable of holding adequate moisture during the growing period.
Climatic Requirements for Growing Garlic grows favourably in areas with type I climate, which is characterized by a wet season that usually occurs from May to October and a dry season from November to April. Garlic does not grow well in areas with excessive rainfall.
Land Preparation For Garlic Plantation
The two types of land preparation for garlic farming are with tillage and without tillage or zero tillage. With tillage:- This method of land preparation for garlic is similar to that for corn, soybean, and other upland crops. The field is ploughed and harrowed twice or more at seven days intervals or less. A tractor-mounted rotavator can also be used.
Without tillage:- This method of land preparation is usually practised in the lowland rice fields after the harvest of paddy. Rice straws and weeds are cut close to the ground. If the soil is too wet, the field is allowed to dry until the desired moisture level is attained. Canals are usually constructed around the paddies to ensure no standing water after heavy rain or irrigation.
Pests And Disease Control In Garlic Production
Both nymphs and adults feed on the plant. They suck the sap of the plant from younger leaves to the growing points. The older leaves become withered or blasted in appearance.
Control – the thrips population is at its peak, usually from late January to March. In areas with thrips infestation, early planting, possibly in October, is recommended. Burning of infested leaves and spraying of chemicals such as Malathion, fipronil, ethion and the like are among the recommended controls.
Control: for piece treatment of seeds, apply chemicals recommended for the control of mites. For field infestation, apply the recommended chemicals as early as the sign of infestation appears and repeat at seven to 10-day intervals until the pest is controlled.
Harvesting And The Yield Of Garlic
Garlic is a crop of 4 ½ to 5 months duration. When the leaves start turning yellowish or brownish and show signs of drying up usually about a month or so for the emergence of seed stalks, the crop is ready for harvest. The plants are then pulled out or uprooted with a country plough and are tied into small bundles, which are then kept in the field or in the shade for 2 – 3 days for curing and drying so that the bulbs become hard and their keeping quality is prolonged.
