Garlic Cultivation in Pakistan

Garlic is the second most cultivated crop after onion. It has been recognized all over the world as a valuable spice for foods and a popular remedy for various ailments and physiological disorders. Garlic is grown throughout Pakistan and most of the Pakistani population uses it in every saltish dish. It is used practically all over the world for flavoring various dishes. About 50% of the entire output of fresh garlic is dehydrated and sold to food processors in America. In Pakistan, Middle East and other countries, it is already being used in several food preparations especially in dishes, curry powders, curried vegetables, meat preparation, tomato ketchup etc. The important garlic producing countries in the world are china, Turkey, India, Thailand, Korea, Egypt, Pakistan etc.

Garlic is a herbaceous plant belonging to the family Lilaceae with a botanical name Allium sativum which also consists of leeks, onion and shallots. It is perpetual with an underground bulb with collection of pungent bulblets usually called cloves. On the basis of cultivation, garlic is the second most developed allium after onion. It is also renowned worldwide in medication for aliments of various physiological disorders and is also used as a precious spice in foods. It is grown everywhere in Pakistan and its production is 1698.1 tones occupying a total area of 172.4 thousand hectare of Pakistan. Pakistan is ranked among the top 10 garlic importing countries of the world from 2001-2010, with the exception of year 2001 and 2002, in which Pakistan is ranked as the 13th and 14th largest importer of garlic. During 2001-2010, Pakistan was ranked only twice among the top 20 garlic exporting countries of the world, in the year 2003 and 2008. In the year 2003 and 2008, Pakistan was the net importer, as well as, a net exporter of garlic.

Fertile, well drained and loamy soil is required for garlic cultivation and high yield. Heavy and hard soil significantly affects the bulb size and yield. Garlic is frost resistant crop requires cool period during early growth and dry period near maturity. The increase in day length from 8 to 12 hrs increase the bulb weight, bulb diameter and number of cloves and reduce the number of secondary leaves.

Garlic is planted in single clove but bulbils are also used occasionally. In hilly area, this crop is planted in March-April where in plains; it is planted from August to Oct. The quantity of planting material required per area depends on clove size and number of cloves per bulb. A distance of 15 to 20 cm (row to row) and 8 to 10 cm (plant to plant) is recommended for better production. Garlic responds very well to organic manure, application of 16-20 tones/acre at the time of field preparation is recommended. Application of N:P:K @ 75:85:55 kg produce higher yield. At the time of planting, half of nitrogen along with full dose of P and K should be used, the remaining half of nitrogen be applied 30-45 days after planting. Garlic crop needs irrigation once in a week during vegetative growth and at 10-15 days interval near maturation. Garlic is a closely planted crop which requires 3-5 manual hoeing for higher yield. However weeding is tedious, expensive and often damage the plants therefore weeds can be controlled by using oxadiazon (0.5 lit/acre) and pendimethalin (1.0 lit/acre), as pre-emergence weedicides. The crop is ready for harvest when the tops turn brownish and show signs of drying up and bend over. The bulbs mature in 4-6 months after plantation depending upon the climate.

Garlic bulbs can be best stored for 3-4 months in well ventilated room. Storability is also affected by enzyme activity and the cultivars most suitable for storage have generally have low ascorbate and polyosenol oxidase activity. Application of 2500 or 5000 ppm MH as foliar spray before harvest is reported to inhibit sprouting in storage up to 300 days without any appreciable adverse effects on yield. The treatment also reduces the loss in weight of bulbs stored at low temperature (1.0 to 8.0C).