2. CUMIN
Scientific Name: Cuminum cyminum Family: Umbelliferae
Cumin is an important annual spices crop, it is also known as (jeera)
Cumin seed is basically native to the Eygpt and it now grows in countries
like India, North Africa, China.
In india mainly grown in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and about 70%
of world production of cumin is produced in India.
It is an important spice manly used in Nepali and Indian kitchens regularly
for flavoring various food preparations
Cumin seed are the used in various Ayurvedic herbal medicine and also
especially for stomach pain, digestion.
3. BOTANY OF CUMIN
Habitat terrestrial
The height of cumin plant is 20-30 cm
Root: cumin plant is tap root system but weak root system which is mostly
confined to 10-20cm depth of the soil.
Flower color: mostly pink , some times white also
Leaf type :the leaves are compound
The leaves are simple (long divided and deep green color)
Fruit type (general)the fruit is dry but does not split open when ripe
Fruit length at least 4 mm
The crop is diploid and 2n=14
4. VARIETIES
The improved varieties of cumin are listed below:
RSK-1 It is grown in north India.
TOPLKA - It is high yielding variety, introduced from Bulgaria and resistance to
Pseudomonas cumin.
NO-1 - It is early variety introduced from Bulgaria.
GC-1(Gujarat cumin-1) Released by spices research station GAU, Jagudan, 1988 developed
and good quality character3.6% volatile oil, yield 775Kg/ha.
MC-43 & VIJAPUR -5 - These are promising variety of Gujarat which bears bold seeds
and process good yield potential.
MC-43 is tolerant to wilt and blight, yield 580Kg/ha, contains6.3% oil and matures in 115
days.
RZ-19(Rajasthan jeera-19) High yielding variety, bold dark grey seeds, medium in
maturity(120-130days), requires -7 irrigation, yield -.9q seeds/ha, have oil content of 2.3-
3% , tolerant to wilt and blight.
RZ-209 It was developed by Rajasthan agricultural University, It is resistance to wilt and
blight disease.
Others varieties are UC -89, UC -199, UC -208, UC -209, VC-11 and VC-24.
5. SOILAND CLIMATE
Cumin cultivation requires loamy soil with good drainage supplemented
with organic matter.
Commercial cumin cultivation should select a field in which cumin farming
has not been taken up at least during last 3 to 4 years.
It is cultivated in mild climatic conditions.
Cumin crop does not grow well in humid and heavy rainfall condition
Dry and cooler climate is ideal for cumin cultivation.
High humidity during flowering and fruiting period there is high risk of
diseases.
Soil should be brought to fine tillage by one deep ploughing followed by 2-3
light ploughings.
Pre –showing irrigation should be given.
LAND PREPARATION
6. MANURES AND FERTILIZERS
FYM@15-20 tones/ ha may be applied as during the land preparation.
(N:P:K)kg/ha 15:20:15
N@15kg/ha should be at 30 days after sowing.
SOWING TIME
SEED RATE
Mid November –mid December
12 -15 kg /ha
7. SOWING METHOD
Seeds may be sown either by broadcasting method or in lines.
The seeds were sown in lines drawn at distance of 22.5to 25cm.
Seed should not be sown more than 1.0 cm depth.
The seeds should be covered tightly by soil with the help of iron teeth
wakes.
IRRIGATION
First: light irrigation immediately after sowing .
Second :8-10 days after sowing.
Third :15-20 days depending upon moisture condition of soil.
Avoid irrigation at time of grain filling.
8. WEED MANAGEMENT
To facilitate proper growth of crop, the first weeding and hoeing should be
done 30-40 days after sowing when the plant attain a height of 4-5 cm.
Pre-emergence application of Pendimethalin @1kg /ha followed by one
hand weeding .
HARVESTING
Crop mature in 80-120 days after sowing depending upon variety and
agro-climatic conditions.
Harvest the crop when the steam becomes yellow and leaves fall and
seeds turn light grayish brown.
Harvesting is done by cutting the cumin by plant with sickle.
After the sun drying seeds can be separated by light beating with sticks.
Yield is about 6-8q/ha depending upon variety.
