Performance evaluation of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) in the plains of Kerala

Abstract

Kerala, the spice bowl of India is popular for tropical spice crops like pepper, cardamom,nutmeg etc. Garlic, an important foreign exchange earner of India is produced mostly inthe states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat. In Kerala it is grown commerciallyin two unique rain shadow pockets, Kanthalloor and Vattavada regions of Devikulamblock of Idukki district. Although garlic is grown in the high ranges of Kerala, itscultivation in plains are not evaluated so far. Generally cool season crops performs wellinplains when grown during October – March. Hence the present study was conducted toevaluate the performance of two genotypes Singapore and Mettupalayam in the plains.The two garlic genotypes were grown as pot culture during October – February in the year2016-2017, in the plains of Thrissur district, the central part of Kerala. Among the twotypes Mettupalayam was found to be recorded higher Bulb weight (14.53g) and number ofcloves per bulb (4.2), but it was less compared to that grown in high ranges (17.19g and11.9 respectively). Hence the study revealed the possibilities of garlic cultivation in theplains of Thrissur district of Kerala with some refinements in agro techniques.