Ginger Production
Nigeria is the third largest exporter of ginger in the world after China and India. In the Nigerian market ginger is well known and on high demand even though it is quite expensive.
Most of the dried ginger that are available for international trade are simply sun dried over a few days, but artificial drying is also used in areas lacking a defined dry season to coincide with the harvest.
The rhizome is dried to between 10 and 12 per cent moisture content. Dried ginger is usually presented in a split or sliced form. Splitting is said to be preferred to slicing, as slicing loses more flavour, but the sliced are easier to grind and this is the predominant form of dried ginger currently in the market.
In Nigeria, harvesting of ginger starts from October and normally continues until April/May. This largely depends on the market situation as ginger can be left on the ground (not harvested) for two years.
Ginger is produced in six states of the Federation namely, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Benue, Niger and Gombe with Kaduna as the major producer. Nigeria’s production in 2005 was estimated at 110,000 metric tonnes (FAO). In the market, ginger is available in various forms; fresh ginger rhizome, powder ginger and dry ginger rhizome. Out of this, 10% is locally consumed as fresh ginger while 90% is dried primarily for the export markets.
Ginger can be processed into a wide variety of products. Many products can be manufactured from ginger like dehydrated ginger, ginger candy, ginger powder, ginger oil and oleoresins and so on. Ginger is an important commercial crop with versatile applications. As condiment, ginger is used for flavouring many food products like tomato sauce or ketchup, salad dressings, meat sausages, gravies, pickles, curry dishes and so on.
It is also used in many medicines as it helps digestion and absorption of food and has antiseptic properties. Ginger based products have wide range of applications in many industries like food processing, pharmaceutical, soft drinks, meat canning, confectionary, tobacco processing, soap making and so on. The demand for the processed products is increasing day by day due to its convenience to handle and use. There are good export prospects as well. https://www.foramfera.com/marketresearchreports/agriculture-agro-processing-forestry-and-fishing/ginger-powder-production-packaging-and-sales-local-export-in-nigeriathe-feasibility-report/
Land Preparation
Plough the field twice then harrow to pulverize the soil. Make furrows 1 m apart. Incorporate fully decomposed chicken manure at 3-5 t/ha. http://businessdiary.com.ph/2955/ginger-production-guide/#ixzz4vI8s0EQO
Soil Requirements
pH and Sanitation
Ginger plants require mildly acidic soils for healthy growth and rhizome production. Ensure that your soil pH is between 5.5 and 6.5. If the soil pH is too high, it is too alkaline; if it is too low, it is too acidic, and will interfere with ginger growth. Lower the soil pH by applying composted manure, or increase the pH with calcium carbonate or dolomite to achieve optimal pH. Good clean soil is also important for healthy ginger. Make sure that the soil is sanitary and free from pests, or fungal pathogens and parasites, such as root knot nematodes.
Soil quality
Ginger prefers rich, fertile soil. Soil rich in organic matter provides ginger with the nutrients it needs to produce flavourful, healthy rhizomes, without the need for additional fertilizers and amendments. If your soil is lacking in organic matter, or if you are using a store-bought potting mix, stick to a regular fertilization schedule for your ginger plant. Some ginger plants suffer tip rot, in which the tip of the rhizome begins to decay. This indicates a lack of calcium in the soil; therefore, a calcium amendment may be necessary. When adding fertilizers and supplements in areas of high rainfall, remember that rainwater pulls and leaches applications from the soil; therefore, try not to fertilize ginger plants directly before a rainstorm.
Conditions
Moist, well-draining soil is optimal for ginger plants. It is important that the soil mixture hold moisture; however, it is important that ginger plants not be exposed to overly saturated or waterlogged soil. The best soils for draining and moisture retention include sandy or loamy mixtures. Create a soil mixture using one part sand and one part compost for optimal drainage, as well as the proper amount of organic matter for fertilization. Because ginger develops beneath the soil, adequate soil coverage is also required to protect the rhizome from the elements above ground. Guard against soil erosion, due to wind and rainfall, by providing a sheltered area for your ginger plant to grow. http://homeguides.sfgate.com/kind-soil-ginger-like-42476.html
Varieties
Ginger has several varieties grown in different growing areas and are generally named according to their localities where they are grown. Some of the varieties are grouped into the following:
- High dry ginger which includes Maran, Nadia, Karakkal, Manantoddy, Valluvanad.
- Green ginger which includes Rio-de-janeiro, Wynad local, China, Tafengiya and Varadha.
- High volatile oil which includes Sleeve Local, Himachal, Narasapatlam, etc.
- High oleoresin; which includes Ernad, Chernad, China, Rio-de-janeiro, etc.
- Low fiber content; which includes Jamaica, Bangkok and China.
http://agriculturenigeria.com/farming-production/horticulture/ginger
Planting Materials
About 800 to 1,500 kg seed pieces are required per hectare. Store ginger roots under shade and cover with banana or coconut leaves. Select healthy rhizomes with sprouts or eyes just before planting. Cut into pieces with 3-4 sprouts each.
The seed pieces may also be pre-germinated for uniform growth. Prepare raised beds of any desired length measuring 1 m wide and 20 cm high. Line sow the seed pieces 2 cm apart and cover with a mixture of compost and coir dust. Water as needed. Transplant when the sprouts are about 1-2 cm long. New varieties can also be propagated by micro propagation or tissue culture to increase the rate of multiplication.
Propagation
Ginger is vegetatively propagated from small sections of the rhizome, called sets. Sets are produced by cutting a small 3–6 cm from a living rhizome. Each piece should possess at least one living bud which will produce shoots. The ginger sets can be pre-sprouted in pots or nursery seed beds by covering with a layer of soil or they can be planted directly at the final planting location. The bed should be prepared for planting by digging to soil to a fine tilt and removing any weeds that are present. The addition of lime to the soil adjusts the pH while helping to provide the calcium required by the plants during their growth. Lime should be added to the soil in appropriate amounts in the Fall prior to planting. The sets should then be planted in early Spring at a depth of 5–12 cm, leaving 15–35 cm between plants and 25–30 cm between rows. For optimal growth, the soil temperature at planting should not fall below 25°C (77°F).
General care and maintenance
Ginger has a tendency to grow horizontally and the soil can be hilled around the growing stems to force a more vertical growth habit. Soil should be hilled 3 to 5 times during the growing season. Any exposed rhizomes should be covered with soil and weeds should be removed from the bed. Ginger will benefit from the addition of a complete fertilizer as well as phosphorous, calcium and organic matter prior to planting. During the growing season, additional fertilizer can be applied as a side dressing. The side dressing should be made 25 to 30 cm (10-12 in) from the row of plants due to ginger being easily damaged by fertilizer applications. Side dressings should be made every 2 to 3 weeks during the growing season to ensure the ginger is supplied with adequate nutrients. https://plantvillage.org/topics/ginger/infos
Irrigation
Carefully monitor irrigation to prevent sunburn of newly developed shoots and water stress in the crop. Any wilting will reduce the final yield. You will need a low output solid set sprinkler system with an output of 3-4 mm/hour. Sunburn is likely to occur with young shoots when shade temperatures reach 32 °C. These conditions are most likely to occur between 10 am and 3 pm.
Commence irrigation when the temperature reaches 31 °C and wet the top 2 cm of soil. Check moisture daily, particularly on still days or when NE winds are blowing. Where possible, align irrigation NE/SW. Even with an automatic system you should still do regular daily checks.
Ginger requires high quality water for irrigation. Supplies with an electrical conductivity greater than 0.65 dS/m require careful management so you should seek advice. If the water supply is suspect, we suggest monthly testing. Table 1 shows an example of a typical irrigation schedule.
| Table 1. Irrigation plan | |
| Month | Irrigation scheduling – amount and comments |
| July | Fallow or cover crop. |
| August to mid October | After planting irrigate to maintain soil moisture until emergence. Avoid overwatering before emergence as rots develop easily. |
| Mid October to late November | During shoot emergence, use irrigation to cool the tender shoots and prevent sunburn (as well as for plant growth). Apply small amounts of water, such as 2 mm/hour during sunny periods. Once shoots have unfurled and significant leaf cover has been established, maintain soil moisture for growth by applying 5 mm every 10 days. During very hot, sunny weather, keep surface 2 cm of soil moist to cool the plants and prevent sunburn. |
| December to mid-to-late January | For normal plant growth and evaporation, apply 5 mm every 2-3 days over a 6 week period. The amount and frequency will vary widely with soil type and weather conditions. |
| Late January to end of February | Heavier applications are required for plant growth and evaporation. Apply 10-12 mm every 2-3 days (amount and frequency will vary as above). Avoid plant water stress. |
| March to June | Apply as required for the late harvest crop (mainly to stop wilting) – approx. 25 applications of 12-13 mm. Maintain sufficient moisture for growth and to prevent desiccation after tops die off. |
Weeding
Ginger generally requires regular hand weeding during its growth period. Hand weed 1 month after planting. The frequency of subsequent weeding depends on weed density. Mulch with coconut leaves or rice straw to suppress weed growth. http://businessdiary.com.ph/2955/ginger-production-guide/#ixzz4vIFH2TnR
Diseases of Ginger
Bacterial wilt or Prem Rog (Ralstonia solanacearum)
Symptoms
It is the most serious disease and the symptoms can be noticed form July-August. The leaf margins of the affected plant turn bronze and curl backward. The whole plants wilt and die. The base of the infected pseudo stem and the rhizome emit foul smell. When the suspected pseudo stem is cut and immersed in a glass of clean water, milky exudates will ooze out from the cut end. Typical symptom is the wilting observed during afternoon in young seedlings.
Management
Seed contamination is the major source of infection. Hence, procure only healthy rhizome from disease free area. Treat the seed with Streptocyclin (20g/100 litre water). Remove the affected clumps and drench the soil with copper oxychloride 0.2%.
Soft rot or Paheli (Pythium aphanidrematum)
Symptoms
It is a serious seed as well as soil borne disease and the symptoms can be seen from July. Yellowing of leaves appear first on the lower leaves and proceeds to upper leaves. Roots arising from the affected rhizome become rotten and show brown discoloration of the rhizome tissue. Sometimes the pseudo stem comes off easily with a gentle pull. The rotten parts attract other fungi, bacteria and insects particularly the rhizome fly. During the rainy season, this disease spreads very fast from infected field to healthy field.
Management
Avoid water logging. At the time of sowing, treat the rhizome with Bordeaux mixture (1%) and again with Trichoderma @8-10-gm/litre water.
Remove the badly affected plants and drench around the infected plants, after slightly removing of soil with Bordeaux mixture (1%) or copper oxychloride @ 2g/1 liters of water.
Dry rot (Fusarium and Pratylenchus complex)
Symptoms
It is a fungus-nematode complex disease. In contrast to rhizome rot, dry rot appears in field in small patches and spreads slowly. The affected plants appear stunted and exhibit varying degree of foliar yellowing. Older leaves dry up first followed by younger ones. In advanced stage the rhizome, when cut open, show a brownish ring and is mainly restricted to cortical region. The pseudo stems of the dry rot affected plants does not come off with a gentle pull in contrast to soft rot. The affected rhizomes are shrunken, dry and are not marketable.
Management
Soil application of mustard oil cake at the rate of 40 kg/ha before sowing in furrows can check the nematode problem. Hot water treatment (51OC for 10 min) followed by seed treatment with Bordeaux mixture (1%) effectively checks the problem.
Leaf spot / blight (Phyllostricta zingiberi)
Symptoms
Small spindle to oval spots appear on younger leaves. The spots have white papery centres and dark brown margins surrounded by yellowish halos. The spot later increases in size and coalesce to form larger spots which eventually decrease the photosynthetic area. In the case of severe infection, the entire leaves dry up.
Management
Spray Bordeaux mixture (1%) 3-4 times at 15 days’ interval with the initiation of the disease. Good control is achieved by growing the crop under partial shade.
Insect Pests of Ginger
White Grub or Khumlay Holotrichia spp.
It is a sporadic pest, sometimes causes serious damage. The grub feeds on the roots and newly formed rhizomes. The infestation is generally more during August-September. The adult beetles, after emergence from pupae settle on the Ficus or other trees in congregation which can be collected and destroyed. The entomophagous fungus Metarrhizium anisophilae can be mixed with fine cow dung and then applied in the field to control the grubs. In endemic areas opt for soil application of neem cake @ 40 kg/ha before sowing.
Shoot borer (Conogethes punctiferalis)
The larvae bore the tender pseudostem and reach the central portion by feeding on the internal tissues, thus resulting in yellowing and drying of shoots. Infestation may occur from June to October. Spray Nimbicidine (2-5ml/l) or Beauveria bassiana@ 2-5ml/l
Shoot boring weevil (Prodioctes haematicus)
The grubs bore into the pseudostem and cause dead hearts. Remove alternate host plants such as wild turmeric and cardamom. The congregating adult beetles can be collected and destroyed. Spray Nimbicidine @ 2-5ml/l or Carbofuran 3G granules @ 30 kg/ha immediately after mother rhizome extraction. In the case of severe infestation, spray Endosulfan @ 0.07 %.
Integrated Pest and Disease Management for Ginger
- Field hygiene is more important to manage the pests and diseases. Avoid water stagnation, provide adequate drainage, remove weeds periodically, apply only well rotted FYM compost @ 25 t/ha and thoroughly incorporate it in the soil, apply dolomite @ 2 t/ha before sowing to increase soil pH, sow ginger in raised beds of at least 25-30 cm height and provide mulching with leaves and twigs of chilaune (Schima wallichii) or Banmara (Eupatorium sp) or utis (Alnus nepalensis) or mustard oil cake @ 5 to 10 t/ha and follow crop rotation of 2 to 4 years depending on the incidence and severity of the diseases. Soil application of Biocontrol agents like T. harzianum and P. fluorescence during planting time @ 2-5% gives effective control of the diseases.
- Use good quality rhizome for sowing. Procure disease free seeds from disease free area.
- Before sowing, treat the rhizome in hot water (51oC for 10 min) and again in solution of Bordeaux mixture 1% for 15 min. Add Streptocyclin (20g/ 100 l water) if bacterial wilt is also a problem. Dry the rhizome in shade and then sow. If cut rhizome are to be planted, they should be treated after cutting.
- Treat rhizome with bio-inoculant Pseudomonas fluorescens and Trichoderma harzianum followed by soil application 60 days after planting to reduce rhizome rot.
- Once the diseases is spotted in the field, remove the affected clumps and drench the soil with Bordeaux mixture 1% at 15 days interval.
- Diseased plants should be identified while the crop is in field. Rhizomes from such plants should not be selected for the seed purpose
- Mechanical collection and destruction of grubs, weevils, larvae and adult beetle periodically will reduce the incidence of insect pests. If white grub is predominant, apply Nimbicidine @ 2-5 ml/ l.
- It has been observed that diseases spread fast after mother rhizome (mau) extraction. Hence, drench the soil with fungicide immediately after mau extraction and again this practice has to be followed keeping into consideration the cost – benefit ratio of mau extraction and disease incidence. http://vikaspedia.in/agriculture/crop-production/technologies-for-ne-india/pests-and-diseases-management-in-ginger
Harvesting Ginger
You can actually start harvesting ginger at four months, but just a little piece of rhizome at a time. You definitely want to harvest all of your ginger before your first freeze. If you live in a zone that allows a full 10 months of growing season, harvest when the leaves are yellow and the stem falls over. Harvest by hand using digging forks, wash under running water—it’s tricky to rinse the dirt out from the cracks and crevices, and you’ll have to break apart the rhizome to get it all—and allow the ginger pieces to air-dry before storing or selling.
Save back some rhizomes to replant next year. As long as these rhizomes are kept at 55 degrees F or higher, they should still be viable next year. http://www.hobbyfarms.com/when-do-you-harvest-ginger/
