Coriander is a tropical crop commonly used as a flavoring agent. Its seeds and leaves are edible but seeds and fresh leaves are most commonly used. It prefers frost-free temperatures between 20-25°C and annual rainfall of 75-100mm. Well-drained loamy soils with a pH of 6-8 are suitable. Rajasthan is the largest producer in India. Pests include aphids which can be controlled by insecticides. Diseases include stem gall caused by a fungus and powdery mildew caused by another fungus, both controlled by fungicides. Irrigated crops yield 500-600kg/ha while rainfed crops yield 300-400kg/ha.

1. CORIANDER

2. Coriandrum Sativum
F- Apiaceae
2n = 2x = 22
• Coriander seeds and leaves are used as common food flavoring agents.
• Coriander seeds have medicinal properties.
• All parts of the plant are edible but the fresh leaves and dried seeds are
commonly used in cooking.
• In India, Coriander is cultivated in Rajasthan, MP, UP and other states like AP,
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
• Largest producer of Coriander seed in the country is Rajasthan ( 58%) followed by
MP(15%), Assam and Gujarat (8%).

3. Climate :
• Coriander is a tropical crop, so it prefers frost-free tropical climate at the time of
flowering and seed formation.
• Cool and comparatively dry climate is ideal for it’s production.
• It performs better at a temp range of 20-25 ◦C.
• It requires an annual rainfall of minimum 75 – 100mm.

4. Soil :
• Well drained silt or loamy soils are best suited for its cultivation.
• For rainfed crop, soil should be clayey in nature .
• PH of the soil should be 6-8.

5. Varieties :
• RCr41 Resistant to stem gall.
Tall varieties of coriander with small grains.
• RCr20  Bushy and spreading growth habit
Large sized grains
Tolerant to powdery mildew
• RCr 435( 110-130 days) & RCr436 ( 90-100 days ) Early varieties.
• GC1, GC2
• Sindhu Resistant to aphids
• Sadhna
• Swathi
• CO1,CO2,CO3  Tolerant to grain mould and powdery mildew
• Rajendra Swathi Resistant to stem gall

6. Sowing time :
• June-July ( Rainfed)
• October –November ( irrigated )

7. Land Preparation:
• 3-4 ploughings are required to have a fine tilth.
• 10 ton/ha FYM is to be given before last ploughing.
• Irrigation channels and beds are to be prepared for irrigated crop.

8. Sowing method:
• Seed rate – Irrigated crop - 10-12kg/ha
Rainfed crop – 20-25kg/ha
• As the whole seed will not germinate properly, the seeds are split open into
halves before sowing for more germination process by soaking it overnight in
water and then rubbing gently by hand.
• The split seeds are sown at a spacing of 20 x 15 cm.
• The seeds will germinate in about 8-12 days.

10. Seed treatment:
• Pre-sowing seed hardening treatment with potassium dihydrogen phosphate @
10g/li of water for 16hrs to be done for rainfed crop.
• Seeds are to be treated with Azospirillium @ 1.5kg/ha for better crop
establishment.
• Seed treatment with Trichoderma viride @ 4g/Kg of seeds has to be done to
control wilt disease.

11. Fertilization:
• 10Kg N, 40Kg P2O5 and 20Kg K2O should be applied as basal for both rainfed and
irrigated crops .
• Top dressing may be done with 10kg N/ha, 30 days after sowing for irrigated
crops only.

12. Weeding:
• 1st Weeding is done 20 days after sowing.
• 2nd weeding in irrigated crop may be done b/w 50 or 60 days of sowing
depending upon the weed growth.
• Herbicides may also be applied for weed control (Pendimethalin@ 1kg/ha)

13. Irrigation:
• 1st irrigation should be given immediately after sowing.
• On third day , life saving irrigation is given.
• Irrigation requirement depends upon the climate, soil moisture level and variety.
• Standard irrigation schedule is 5-6 irrigation. i.e.7-10 days interval.

14. Plant protection:
Aphid
• Small, soft bodied insects found on the underside of leaves and stem of plants,
usually green or yellow in color.
• If aphid infestation is heavy, it may cause leaves to turn yellow and distorted,
necrotic spots found on leaves and shoots become stunted.
• Aphids secrete a sticky, sugary substance called honeydew which encourages the
growth of sooty mould on the plants.
Control-
• It can be controlled by spraying of Methyl demeton or Dimethoate 2ml/li.

15. Aphid infestation in coriander

16. Diseases:
Stem gall
• It’s caused by fungal pathogen Protomyces macrosporous.
Symptom-
• Galls appear on the leaves and stems of the plants.
• Shape of the seeds change due to effect of this disease.
Control-
• Seed treatment with 4gm Thiram and 2gm Bavistin/Kg of seeds can control this
disease.
• Spraying of 0.1% carbendazim when the symptom start appearing and repeat the
spray at 20days interval till the disease is completely controlled.

17. Powdery mildew
• It’s caused by fungal pathogen Erysiphe Polygoni.
Symptom-
• Small white spots appear on leaves surface and later covered the entire surface.
• Powdery growth can be seen on Petiole and umbels.
• Under severe infestation, plants present an ashy-white appearance.
Control-
• Spraying of wettable sulphur 1kg/ha or dinocap 250ml/ha at the time of initial
appearance and 2nd spray at 10days interval controls this diseases.
• Neem seed kernel extract 5% spray thrice (1st spray immediately after the
appearance of this disease, 2nd and 3rd at 10 days interval) can control this
disease.

18. Wilt
• It’s caused by fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum
Symptom-
• The lower leaves turn yellow and later dry in affected plants.
• Later, the affected plants show wilt symptoms.
• The roots of the affected plants show vascular discoloration.
Control-
• Seed treatment with carbendazim 2gm/Kg of seeds
• Soil drenching with carbendazim 0.1% or copper oxychloride 0.25%.
• Seed treatment with Pseudomonas flurescens @ 10gm/Kg of seeds.

19. Grain mould
Symptom-
• Grain discoloration occurs which varies from light whitish, pinkish, greyish to
shiny black and in sever case grain turns completely black.
• High humidity more than 90% due to frequent rain and temp range of 25-35 ◦C
during flowering to gain development period are quite favorable for infection and
development.
Control-
• It can be controlled by spraying of carbendazim 0.1% (500gm/ha) 20 days after
grain set.

20. Harvesting:
• The plants are pulled just when the fruits are fully ripe but green in color and
start drying.
• The plants are dried and threshed with sticks, winnowed and cleaned.
• For leaf purpose, pull out the plants when they are 30-40 days old.

24. Threshing

25. Post Harvest management:
Drying of coriander seeds
• Fresh coriander seeds should be dried under shade to retain its color and quality.
• After drying, seeds are separated by light beating with sticks and winnowing.
Packaging and storage
Clean gunny bags are used for packing coriander seeds which are stored in damp
free aerated store rooms.

26. Yield
• Rainfed crop- 300-400kg/ha
• Irrigated crop- 500-600Kg/ha
• Leaf yield- 6-7ton/ha