Classification of Turmeric Plants (Curcuma domestica Val)
- Divisio: Spermatophyta
- Sub-diviso: Angiosperms
- Class: Monocotyledoneae
- Order: Zingiberales
- Family: Zingiberaceae
- Genus: Curcuma
- Species: Curcuma domestica Val.
Other Regional Names for Turmeric (Curcuma domestica Val):
Kunyit (Indonesia); kunir (Java), koneng (Sundanese), konyet (Madura), hunik (Batak), kunyir (Lampung), yellow tyemu, kunir (Java), koneng (Sundanese), konyet, meeting koneng (Madura), kunidi (North Sulawesi), kuminu (Ambon), rame (Irian), yin cin, chiang huang (China), indian saffron, turmeric (English), curcuma, saffran des Indes (France), kurkuma (Italy), acafrao da India (Portuguese), saffron (English), kurkuma (Netherlands).
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Description of Turmeric Plants (Curcuma domestica Val)Turmeric is one of the spices and medicinal plants, the original habitat of this plant includes Asia, especially Southeast Asia. This plant then has spread to Indo-Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia and even Africa. Almost every Indonesian and Indian as well as Asian people have generally consumed this spice plant, either as a complement to cooking spices, herbal medicine or to maintain health and beauty. Turmeric plants grow branched with a height of 40-100 cm. The stem is a pseudo stem, erect, round, forming a rhizome with a yellowish green color and composed of leaf midrib (slightly soft). Single leaf, ovate (lanceolate) elongated up to 10-40 cm, 8-12.5 cm wide and pinnate with pale green color. Compound flowers with hair and scaly from the bud of the pseudo stem, 10-15 cm long with a crown of about 3 cm and a width of 1.5 cm, white / yellowish in color. The tip and base of the leaves are pointed, the edges of the leaves are flat. The outer skin of the rhizome is brownish orange, the flesh of the fruit is red and yellowish orange (Hapsoh and Rahmawati, 2006). |
Growing Requirements for Turmeric Plants (C. domestica Val)
Turmeric plants can grow well in areas that have full or moderate light intensity, so this plant is very good at living in open places or a little shade. The best growth is achieved in areas with rainfall of 1000-4000 mm / year.
When planted in areas with rainfall <1000 mm / year, the irrigation system must be sufficiently managed and well ordered. This plant can be cultivated throughout the year. The best growth is at the beginning of the rainy season.
The optimum air temperature for this plant is between 19-30oC. Turmeric thrives on loose soil, on the soil that is hoeed properly will produce abundant tubers.
The type of soil desired is light soil with high organic matter, sandy loam soils that are free from stagnant water / slightly alkaline. Turmeric grows well in the lowlands (from <240 m asl) to the highlands (> 2000 m asl). Optimal production + 12 ton / ha is achieved at an altitude of 45 m above sea level. (Hapsoh and Rahmawati, 2006).
Cultivation C. domestica Val
Land Preparation
The location for planting can be in the form of dry land, plantations or yards. Preparation of land for turmeric gardens should be done 30 days before planting.
The soil is hoeed at a depth of 20-30 cm and then rested for 1-2 weeks so that the toxic gases in the soil evaporate and the seeds of disease / pests die from exposure to the sun. The land is then swaddled with a width of 60-100 cm and a height of 25-45 cm with a distance between the beds of 30-50 cm.
To maintain soil moisture, increase soil nutrients, drainage, and smooth aeration, it is done by sprinkling basic fertilizers (manure). into the land / in the planting hole and left for 1 week. Each planting hole requires 2.5-3 kg of manure.
Preparation of Seeds C. domestica Val
Good turmeric seeds come from the breakdown of rhizomes, because they are easier to grow. The requirements for good seedlings: come from plants that thrive, are fresh, healthy, have lots of leaves and are green, sturdy, protected from disease attacks; sufficient age / originating from rhizomes that are> 7-12 months old; uniform shape, size and color; has sufficient moisture content; the seeds have experienced a period of rest (dormancy) is sufficient; avoid foreign materials (seeds of other plants, skin, gravel).
The rhizome of the seed material is cut in order to obtain a uniform size and weight and to estimate the number of buds / rhizomes. The former is covered with kitchen ash / husk or soaking the cut rhizomes with a fungicide solution (benlate and agrymicin) to prevent mold growth.
Each piece of rhizome has a maximum of 1-3 buds, weighing between 20-30 grams and 3-7 cm long. The growth of turmeric rhizome shoots can be stimulated by: aerating the rhizome in the shade or damp for 1-1.5 months, with watering 2 times a day (morning and evening).
Seedlings grow well when stored at room temperature (25-28°C). In addition, placing the rhizomes between the straws at an air temperature of around 25-28°C. and soak the seeds in a ZPT (growth regulator) solution for 3 hours.
ZPT that is often used is the atonic solution (1 cc / 1.5 liters of water) and the G-3 solution (500-700 ppm). The rhizomes to be soaked in ZPT solution must be dried for 42 hours at 35°C. The number of tillers or rhizome weight can be increased by immersing in a solution of 250 ppm pakloburazol.
The ready seedlings are then placed in the nursery, where the rhizomes will appear shoots of 1-1.5 months old plants. After the shoots grow 2-3 cm, the rhizomes can be planted in the land.
Transplanting the sprouted seedlings must be done carefully to avoid damaging the growing shoots. If there are shoots / seed roots that are intertwined, then the roots are carefully separated then place the seeds in a certain container to make it easier to transport the seeds to the land location.
If the distance between the nursery and the land is far, the seedlings need to be protected so that they remain moist and fresh when they arrive at the location. During transportation, do not stack the sprouted seeds.
Planting C. domestica Val
The need for turmeric seeds / hectare of land is 0.50-0.65 tons. So it is expected that the rhizome production will be 20-30 tons / ha. The prepared turmeric seeds are then planted into holes measuring 5-10 cm with the buds facing upwards.
Turmeric is planted in two patterns, namely planting at the beginning of the rainy season with harvesting at the beginning of the dry season (7-8 months) or planting at the beginning of the rainy season and harvesting is done in two dry seasons (12-18 months).
Both patterns are carried out during the same planting period, namely at the beginning of the rainy season. The only difference lies in the harvest time. The planting hole is made on the bed / plot with a hole size of 30 x 30 cm with a depth of 60 cm. The distance between the holes is 60 x 60 cm.
The planting technique by treating rhizome cuttings in nitro aromatic as much as 1 ml / liter on the mulch-treated media had a significant effect on the growth and vegetative properties of turmeric, while the use of 200 mg / liter indolebutyricacid growth regulators on the same medium had a significant effect on the formation turmeric rhizome.
The planting period for turmeric, which is at the beginning of the rainy season, is the same as for other rhizome plants. This is possible because young plants will need enough water for their growth. Although the rhizomes of this plant will be harvested young, which is 7-8 months, the next planting is still endeavored at the beginning of the rainy season.
Maintenance
Fertilization
Turmeric can grow and produce good rhizomes that require nutrients. In general, the types and doses of inorganic fertilizers that have been recommended for turmeric are urea, SP-36 and KCl, with doses of 100 kg, 200 kg and 200 kg / ha respectively for the monoculture pattern, and 200 kg / ha for the intercropping pattern. .
SP-36 and KCl fertilizers are given at planting time and the dose of urea is divided into 2 parts which are given at the age of 1 and 3 months after planting (Rahardjo and Rostiana, 2005).
The use of artificial P fertilizers can also be replaced by the provision of natural fertilizers such as natural phosphates and ziolites as well as solvent bio fertilizers.P.Supanjani et al. (2006) suggest that the use of natural phosphate and P-solubilizing bacteria is an alternative way to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers.
Provision of 350 kg / ha of natural phosphate, 140 kg / ha of bio fertilizer (Azospirillum lipoferum, Azotobacter beijerinckii, Aeromonas punctata and Aspergilus niger) and 400 kg / ha of zeolite can increase fresh rhizomes by 11.54% compared to SP-36 fertilizer as much 300 kg / ha (Januwati and Yusron, 2003).
The use of natural phosphate together with zeolite and bio fertilizers can not only replace artificial P fertilizers, but also reduce production costs by 30.12%. The general recommended inorganic fertilizer dosage for turmeric plants is 200 kg urea, 200 kg SP-36 and 200 kg / ha KCl.
The results of research by Rosita and Nurhayati (2007) on latosol soil types show that when the dose of organic fertilizer is combined with 20 tons / ha of organic fertilizer / manure, it can produce fresh rhizomes of 17.15 tons / ha.
While the application of organic fertilizers and natural fertilizers alone (bokashi 10 tonnes / ha + bio fertilizer 90 kg / ha + zeolite 300 kg / ha + natural phosphate 300 kg / ha) can only produce fresh turmeric rhizomes of 9.73 tonnes / ha.
In the andosol soil type, partial replacement of manure doses by bio-fertilizers has not been able to match the production of fresh turmeric rhizomes given high doses of manure (20 tons / ha).
Although the application of bio fertilizers (Azospirillum sp., Azotobacter sp., And Aspergillus sp.) Of 45 and 90 kg / ha combined with 10 tons of manure + 200 kg urea + 200 kg SP-36 + 200 kg KCl per ha can increase Fresh weight of rhizome / ha was 27.5% and 70%, respectively, compared to without bio-fertilizers, but the production only reached 6.44 and 5.85 tonnes / ha (Yusron and Januwati 2005).
Treatment package B (cow manure 20 tonnes / ha + Urea 200 kg / ha + SP-36 200 kg / ha + KCl 200 kg / ha) provides better growth and production compared to treatment package A (Bokashi 10 ton / ha + bio fertilizer 90 kg / ha + zeolite 300 kg / ha + natural phosphate 300 kg / ha). Rhizome production per-ha increased to 76.5% (Rosita and Hera, 2009).
Stitching and weeding
If there is a turmeric rhizome that does not grow or the growth is poor, then follow-up planting (embroidery) of other rhizomes that are still fresh and healthy. Turmeric plants including plants are not waterproof.
Therefore, drainage and irrigation arrangements need to be done as carefully as possible, so that the plants are free from standing water so that the rhizomes do not rot.
Improved drainage is good for smoothing and regulating water flow and for storing water during the dry season. Weeding and stocking need to be done to remove weeds (weeds) that interfere with water absorption, nutrients and interfere with plant development.
This activity is carried out 3-5 times along with fertilizing and loosening the soil. The first weeding is done when the plants are ½ month old and at the same time, the planting is done to stimulate the rhizomes to grow large and the soil to remain loose.
As with other rhizome plants, in turmeric this burial job is needed to backfill the root area with sagging soil carried by water. Heading is useful to provide better conditions for the media around the roots so that the rhizomes will thrive and have many branches. Pembumbunan done after routine weeding every 3-4 months.
Pests and Diseases
Rhizome borer is a pest that likes new shoots. Symptoms of the attack show that the leaves appear yellow and then fall off. When the plant is dismantled, the rhizomes look like rodents.
Pest control is carried out using Furadan according to the recommended dosage. Control can also be done organically.
In organic agriculture, which does not use hazardous chemicals but with environmentally friendly materials, it is usually carried out in an integrated manner since the beginning of planting to avoid pests and diseases known as IPM (integrated pest control).
Harvest and Post Harvest
Turmeric plants are ready to be harvested at the age of 8-18 months, the best time to harvest is at the age of 11-12 months, which is when the second leaves fall. At that time the production obtained was greater and more abundant when compared to the harvest at the age of 7-8 months of turmeric.
The characteristics of turmeric plants that are ready for harvest are marked by the end of vegetative growth, such as withering / changing the color of the leaves and stems from green to yellow (the plant looks dead).
Harvesting is done by dismantling the rhizome with a hoe / fork. Before being dismantled, the stems and leaves are removed first.
Furthermore, the rhizome that has been dismantled is separated from the attached soil and then put in a sack so that it is not damaged. The turmeric harvest is done in the dry season because at that time the extracts / substances contained in it collect.
Post-harvest that is done is by washing the rhizomes from dirt until clean. Furthermore, the rhizome is drained. To make simplicia, the rhizome is sliced 7-8 mm thick and then dried in the sun.
The process of drying the rhizome slices can be done by drying in the sun or using an artificial dryer at a temperature of 50°C. Oven drying is better than microwave drying because the curcumin content is not damaged. The optimal operating condition for this drying is oven drying at a good temperature of 65°C (Saputra & Ningrum, 2008).