Visit Our Website – www.iaritoppers.com for Agri.

Study Material & Mock Tests

LECTURE 13 & 14
CORIANDER

Scientific Name : Coriandrum sativum L.

Coriander of commerce is the dried fruit of Coriandrum satiuum L., an aromatic spice
crop. It is a very old flavouring substance and its usage both for its leaves, stems as well as
fruits. The essential oil content of the seeds is about 0.1-0.7%. coriander is one of the
important ingredients in the manufacture of bakery products, imitation flavours, pork, meat,
fish and salads, soda and syrup, gelatin, dessert, candy, preserves, chocolates and liquors. The
essential oil of coriander seeds is a valuable ingredient in perfumery industries.
Origin and distribution
Among the genus coriandrum, the annual aromatic herb of Coriandrum satiuum is
widely cultivated in India for its spicy fruits. The plant is considered to be a native of the
Eastern Mediterranean region or Southern Europe.
Area and production
In India, Rajasthan stands first both in area as well as in production.
Botany:
The plant is a smooth, erect annual herb, fruit is a schizocarp, globular, yellow in colour
with brown ribs.
Climate

Coriander is a tropical crop and can be successfully cultivated in the rabi season in
areas that are free from severe frost during the flowering and seed setting stages.

Soil
Coriander is cultivated both as an irrigated and rain-fed crop. The crop is best cultivated on
heavy black, clayey cotton soils and rich silt loams which are well drained with distributed
moisture. Saline, alkaline and sandy soils are not suitable for this crop.
Varieties
1) RCr-41

It is a selection from local collection of Kota and released in 1988 for irrigated
conditions. The cultivar is highly resistant to stem gall and wilt but only moderately tolerant to
powdery mildew. It matures in 130-140 days and produces an average yield of 9.2 q/ha.

1
 Visit Our Website – www.iaritoppers.com for Agri. Study Material & Mock Tests

2) Rcr-20
It is selection from local collection of Jaipur and released in 1997 for limited
moisture conditions and the heavier soils of southern Rajasthan. The plants are bushy,
spreading, with a medium height. It produces oval grains of large size (18.0g/1,000). It is
moderately tolerant to powdery mildew, wilt as well as stem gall. The cultivar matures in 100-
110 days and produces an average yield of 10.0q/ha.
Varieties developed from Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University:

1) CS-4 (Sadhna)

It is selection from the Nandyal collection and released in 1989 for rain-fed and late-
sown conditions. The plants are semi-erect with medium-sized (16.8g/1,000 grains), oval,straw-
coloured grains. The cultivar is tolerant to white fly and mites. It matures in 100 days and
produces an average yield of 10.3 q/ha.

2) CS-6 (Swathi)
It is selection from the Nandyal collection and released in 1989 for rain-fed and late
sown conditions. The plants are semi-erect with medium-sized (16.8g/1,000 grains), oval,
brownish-yellow grains. The cultivar is tolerant to white fly, grain mould and wilt, and
produces an average yield of 8.8 q/ha.

3) CS-2 (Sindhu)

It is selection from Warrangal local and released in 1991 for rainfed conditions. The
Plants are dwarf with medium sized (16.5 g/1,000 grains), oval, straw coloured grains. The
cultivar is tolerant to wilt and powdery mildew and resistant to aphids. It matures in 102 days
and produces an average yield of 10.5 g/ha.

Variety developed from Rajendra Agricultural University, Bihar:

1) RD-44 (Rajendra Swathi)

It is selection from the Muzaffarpur Local and released in 1987. The plants are medium-
sized with fine, round, aromatic grains (12.5 g/ 1000 grains). It is resistant to stem gall and
moderately resistant to wilt, aphid and weevil. It matures in 100 days and produces an
average yield of 13 q/ha.
The other important cultivars are Hissar Anand, Pant Haritima, Azad Dhania, Amber
and Pusa selection 360.

2
 Visit Our Website – www.iaritoppers.com for Agri. Study Material & Mock Tests

Cultivation
Propagation
Coriander is propagated by seed. Before sowing the fruits are rubbed until the two
mesocarps are separated and then sown.

Land preparation and sowing

Manures and fertilizers:

About 10-20 tonnes of FYM per hectare is applied to the field well before planting.
Fertilisers @ 40:40:40 or 30:40:20 kg or 15:40:20 or 35:35:35 or 20:30:20 NPK per hectare
are applied depending on the location at the time of sowing.
Irrigation
The crop is irrigated immediately after sowing in order to ensure even germination,
and later irrigation is provided at 7-10 days intervals, depending upon the soil and climatic
conditions.

Inter-culture
The crop requires two or three weedings. The first weeding, hoeing and earthing-up
should be done at 40-45 days after sowing, when the seedlings are well above the ground.
Harvesting
The coriander plant matures in 90-120 days for grains and 40 days for greens.

Yield
On an average, a seed yield of 400 to 500 kg/ha under rain-fed conditions and 1000 to
1250 kg/ha under irrigated conditions may be obtained. Under favourable conditions, yields
of 1700 kg to 2240 kg/ha have been recorded.
Storage of seeds
The whole, dried seeds are usually packed into sacks and stored in a cool, dry room.
At the time of storage the seeds should not contain more than 0.5 to 9% moisture.