GARLIC Allium sativum
Liliaceae
San: Lasunah, Rasonah; Hin:Lasun, Lahasun; Ben: Lashan; Mal: Vellulli; Kan: Belluli;
Tam: Vellaipuntu; Mar: Lasunas; Ass: Naharu; Tel:Vellulli, Tella-gadda; Guj: Lasan
Importance
Garlic is one of the important bulb crops used as a spice or condiment with medicinal
value throughout the world. It possesses high nutritive value. Its preparations are useful in
vitiated conditions of kapha and vata, cough, whooping cough, bronchitis, asthma, fever,
facial paralysis, flatulence, colic, constipation, atonic dyspepsia, helminthiasis, duodenal
ulcers, pulmonary and laryngeal tuberculosis, opthalmopathy, cardiopathy, fatigue,
leucoderma, leprosy, hysteria, haemorrhoids, sciatica, otalgia, lumbago, swellings,
splenopathy, hepatopathy, pneumonopathy, anthralgia, sore eyes, ear ache and dental caries
(Kumar et al, 1997).
Distribution
Garlic is a native of Southern Europe and it is cultivated all over the world.. It is
grown throughout India; Gujarat and Orissa being the leading states.
Botany
The genus Allium of Liliaceae family comprises a number of species. The important
ones are the following:
A. sativum Linn. syn. A. porrum Linn.
A. cepa Linn.
A. ampeloprasum Linn.
A. ascalonicum Linn.
A. leptophyllum Wall.
A. macleanii Baker.
A. schoenoprasum Linn.
A. tuberosum Roxb.
Allium sativum is a scapigerous foetid perennial medicinal herb with underground
compound bulbs covered over by outer white thin scales and with simple smooth, round stem,
surrounded at the bottom by tubular leaf sheath. The leaves are simple, long, flat and linear.
The flowers are small and white arranged in rounded umbels mixed with small bulbils. The
entire umbel is enclosed in a tear-drop-shaped membranous spathe. Flowers are usually
sterile (Warrier et al, 1993).
Agrotechnology
Garlic can be grown under a wide range of climatic conditions. It prefers moderate
temperature in summer as well as in winter. Short days are very favourable for the formation
of bulbs. Garlic requires well drained loamy soils rich in humus, with fairly good content of
potash. Garlic is propagated by cloves or bulblets. In the hills, sowing is done in April and
May. Types with bold and compact cloves and thick white covering sheath are preferred for
planting. Ootty- 1 garlic is an improved variety by clonal selection released from TNAU,
Coimbatore. Garlic may be broadcast, planted in furrows or dibbled at the rate of 150-200kg
cloves/ha. In furrow planting, cloves are dropped 7.5-10cm apart in furrows 15cm deep and
covered lightly with loose soil. Cloves may be dibbled 5 to 7.5cm deep and 7.5cm apart in
rows which are 15cm apart with their growing end upwards and then covered with loose soil.
A basal dose of 60kg N and 50kg each of P 2 O 5 and K 2 O are applied along with 25t/ha of
FYM. 60kg N is given as topdressing 45 days after planting. First irrigation is given
immediately after sowing and subsequent irrigations are given at 10-15 days interval
depending upon the soil moisture availability. The last irrigation should be given 2-3 days
before harvesting to facilitate easy harvest and minimum damage to bulbs. First weeding and
hoeing is to be done at one month after sowing followed by a second weeding one month after
first interculture. Hoeing at about two and a half months from sowing loosens the soil and
helps in setting of bigger and well-filled bulbs. Garlic is attacked by Thrips tabacii which