How To Grow Cumin Plant

How To Grow Cumin Plant

Cumin  

Botanical Name : Cuminum cyminum L.

Family : Apiaceae/Umbelliferae

                                                                                     

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum) is a major spice crop. It is a crop that gets ready in less time and gives more income. It can be easily cultivated in light and loamy soil. Less irrigation is sufficient.

It is used in kitchen as well as in medicine, salty biscuits, cakes, pickles, chutney etc. Protein is also found in cumin. A poultice of its seeds is made and used for external diseases. The amount of volatile oil in its seeds is 2.5 to 4.0 percent. This is due to the substance cuminol present in cumin.

 

Origin and Distribution - The place of origin of cumin is Egypt. Cumin is grown in many countries of the world but the main producing countries of cumin are India, Syria, Turkey, Iran etc. India is the largest producer and exporter of cumin in the world, providing a large part of the global supply. Its cumin cultivators also include Mexico, parts of the Mediterranean, China and southern regions of Russia.

In India, it is grown in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh. In Rajasthan, cumin is cultivated mainly in Ajmer, Pali, Jalore, Sirohi, Barmer, Nagaur, Jaipur and Tonk districts.

Nutritive value - The nutrients obtained from cumin are given in the table -                                                          

                                   (Nutrition Value of Cumin per 100 gm)

Protein                    : 18.7 g Fat                           : 15.0 g Fiber                       : 12.0 g Carbohydrates       : 36.6 g Thiamine                : 0.55 mg Riboflavin               : 0.36 mg Nicotinic Acid         : 2.6 mg Vitamin C               : 1.0 mg Vitamin A               : 87.00 IU

     How To Plant Cumin

Varieties

Varieties developed by Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi -

(1) N.P. (D)

(2) N.P. (J) 126 and 149

(3) Selection 7-3

The following varieties are grown in Gujarat-

(1) MC-43

(2) S-404

(3) GC-1 

The following varieties are grown in Rajasthan and Gujarat-

R.Z.-19 - This variety has been developed by S.K.N. Agricultural College, Jobner - Rajasthan Agricultural University and it was released for cultivation in Rajasthan in 1988. The crop is ready in 120-130 days after sowing the seeds. It is a resistant variety to diseases called 'Uktha' and 'Blight'. It gives a yield of 4-7 to 5.7 quintals per hectare.

R.Z. 209 - It is a straight growing variety. Its flowers are pink in colour. The grains are large and brown in colour. This variety is resistant to Wilt and Blight. This variety is ready in 140-150 days. It gives a yield of 6-5 quintals per hectare.

G. C. - 1 - Plants of this variety grow straight. Flowers are pink in colour. Grains are thick and brown in colour. This variety is resistant to Ukta. This variety is ready in 105-110 days. It gives an average yield of 7 quintals per hectare.

G. C. - 2 - Plants of this variety are bushy and multi-branched in nature. Grains are full, grey in colour and attractive. This variety is generally resistant to Ukta, blight and powdery mildew. This variety is ready in 100 days. It gives a yield of 7 quintals per hectare.

R. S. - 1 - This is an early variety which is ready in 90 to 100 days. Seed of this variety is big and hairy. It gives 20-25 percent more yield than local varieties. It is a resistant variety to Ukta disease. It gives 6-10 quintals of yield per hectare.

MC-43- It is ready 10-15 days later than the variety named 'RS 1' and gives 10-20 percent more yield than it. It is a variety resistant to 'Blight' disease. It gives 7-10 quintals of yield per hectare.

Selection- UC-198- The grains of this variety are large and shiny. The grains are brown in colour. 5-6 percent oil is found in the grains. It is a resistant variety to wilt and blight disease.

S 404 - This variety has been found suitable for heavy soil. It is a late ripening variety.

MD 43- This variety is more popular in Gujarat. Now its cultivation has started in many places in Madhya Pradesh.

EC 109635- It is a wilt resistant and high yielding variety.

              How To Plant Cumin Seeds

Latest Varieties-

• Gujarat Jeera-3

• ACC- 1165

• ACC- 1136

• ACC- 1145

• EC - 232684

Climate - Cumin is a cool season crop. Cool weather is required for vegetative growth but high temperature and long light period days are best during flowering and seed ripening. Its crop cannot be grown successfully in areas with high rainfall.

Soil and Its Preparation - Sandy loam or loamy soil is the best for successful production of cumin. It is essential to have sufficient amount of organic matter in the soil, in medium and heavy soils, the cumin crop is affected by a disease called Wilt. Highly alkaline and highly acidic soils are also considered to be obstacles in its successful cultivation.

First ploughing should be done with a soil turning plough. After that, use a harrow or cultivator 3-4 times. After the last ploughing, use a leveller.

 Manure and Fertilizers  -  To get a good crop from cumin, 10-15 tonnes of cow dung manure or compost is added a week before the final ploughing. At the time of final ploughing, 250 kg of super phosphate and 60 kg of muriate of potash are added. Later, 200 kg of 'ammonium sulphate' is added as top dressing.

 

Seed Rate - Seed has special importance in cumin production. To get its high yield, sufficient quantity of seed should be sown. Generally 8-10 kg seed per hectare is sufficient.

Time of Sowing - To get high yield of cumin, it is very important to sow it on time. The suitable time for sowing cumin in northern India is the third and last week of November. However, it can be grown successfully till 6 December.

Seed Treatment - Experiments have shown that if cumin seeds are dipped in 0.001 to 0.01 percent solution of 'malic hydrazide', indole - 3 butyric acid, 2 napyoxy acetic acid before sowing, then germination will be very good.

Method of Sowing - Sowing of cumin is done in the following two ways -

1. Broadcasting - After preparing the field, beds of 5x4 meters size are made in the field, then seeds are scattered in the beds. After scattering the seeds, a light rake is run so that the seeds get buried in the soil. The seeds should not be buried more than 0.5 cm deep otherwise germination will be delayed and the yield will also be adversely affected. Sowing seeds with this method causes hindrance in agricultural work and the yield is also less.

2. Sowing in Lines - Sowing should be done at a distance of 30x20 cm in the rows. By doing this, agricultural work is convenient and more yield is obtained.

Irrigation - Irrigation of cumin crop depends on the type of soil, temperature, condition of the crop etc. The first irrigation is done 2-3 days after sowing. The second irrigation is done 8-10 days after the first irrigation. Both these irrigations are given very lightly because their purpose is to increase germination. After this, 6-8 more irrigations are done. When the grains start ripening, then the final irrigation is done. Do not irrigate the crop when it is ripe.

Hoeing and Weeding - To prevent the weeds growing with cumin, weeding should be done as per the need. If the crop is grown on a large scale, then weedicide medicines should be used for it. Experiments have shown that 2.42 kg of a chemical called 2, 4-D should be dissolved in 700 liters of water and sprayed on one hectare of crop. By doing this, weeds are effectively controlled. Besides, use of commercially produced Bladex H and Blade-1 (mixture of 2, 4-D and 2, 4, 5-T) has also proved to be effective.

       How To Grow Jeera

Harvesting  -  After about 90-100 days of sowing, the crop is ready for harvesting. When the stems of the plant start turning yellow and the leaves start drying and falling, then harvest the crop. The grains are separated by drying the crop in the barn and threshing it.

Threshing - After harvesting the crop, the plants are dried by spreading them on a clean floor in the barn. After this, the cumin seeds are separated from the plants by beating them gently with a wooden stick.

Yield - The yield of cumin depends on the fertility of the soil, the crop grown, and the care of the crop. 8-10 quintals of yield is obtained per hectare.

How To Grow Cumin Plant

Disease Control

The cumin crop is mainly affected by the following two diseases-

1. Powdery Mildew - This disease is caused by a fungus called 'Ascyphi polygoni'. In this, a white powdery substance gets deposited on the leaves and other parts. Fruits either do not appear at all or even if they appear, they do not ripen properly.

Prevention - 1. Spray 0.3% 'Sulphex'.

2. Dissolve 500-750 ml of Calcarea medicine in 510-700 liters of water and spray.

2. Wilt - This disease is caused by a fungus called Fusarium sp. In the beginning of this disease, the leaves turn yellow and fall. Later the whole plant wilts. The vascular fibers in the roots become discolored. This is a soil-borne disease. Its fungus remains in the soil for a long time.

Prevention - 1. Grow Selection No. 7-3, Pusa-33, 66 and 90 and MC 43 varieties because these varieties are resistant to this disease.

2. Adopt long term crop rotation.

3. When the crop is 30-35 days old, spray 0.2% solution of Difolatan or Mancozeb. When the crop is 40-45 days old, spray the same solution again. After the second spray, spray 0.15% Karathane + 0.03% Rogor after 15 days. If necessary, sprinkle 25 kg of sulphur powder 15 days after the third spray.

Insects Control

1. Leaf eating caterpillar - This caterpillar eats leaves due to which there is a hindrance in food production.

Prevention - 0.1% Metasystox solution should be sprayed on the crop.