A rare multipurpose plant
KALI HALDI
Cultivation Guide
INTRODUCTION
Curcuma caesia Roxb. (Common name, Black Tumeric) is a
perinial herb of distinguishable bluish-black rhizome with a
bitter and pungent smell and it is famous for its medicinal
properties. In west Bengal, the rhizome of the plant is used
in Kali Puja, and hence the plant is called Kali haldi. By
etymology, Kali is the feminine form of Kala, which means
black color and hence the plant is termed as black turmeric
in English. This species has been regarded as endangered by
the central forest department of India due to biopiracy.
Plants have a short stem with large oblong leaves. It bears
ovate pyriform or oblong, ovate or cylindrical rhizomes, which are often branched and brownish yellow
in color. The plant originates from India and South-East Asia. It grows in rich humid and clayey soils among
them curcuma longa. It is widely cultivated as a medicinal plant in Southeast Asian countries. In India it is
found in west Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh. It flourishes well in moist
deciduous forest areas.
The rhizome of kali haldi has a bitter, sharp, hot taste, and a pleasant odour. It has anti-bacterial and
anti-fungal properties, and is laxative. It is used as a tonic for the brain and the heart. Rhizomes are useful
in treating leucoderma, piles, bronchitis, asthma, tumors, and tuberculous glands of the neck, enlargement
of the spleen, epileptic seizures, inflammations, and allergic eruptions.
Black turmeric is a rare herb. It is the underground portion of the stem, or rhizome, of the Cucurma
caesia plant. The plant itself is sometimes grown as an ornamental, but the root has been used for centuries
for medicinal and religious purposes. Black turmeric offers benefits similar to the orange variety, but the
darker cultivar contains higher concentrations of curcumin than any other Curcuma species. In Hindi, the
herb is called Kali Haldi. It is used widely in India for health and religious purposes.
MEDICINAL USES
Black turmeric contains the highest concentrations of
curcumin of any plant species. It is a powerful antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory. The root has been used medicinally for
centuries to treat arthritis, asthma, and epilepsy. Black
turmeric root is crushed and can be applied to bruises and
sprains to ease discomfort or applied to the forehead to help
relieve symptoms of migraines.
The rhizome of the plant is aromatic, contains essential oil
and used for a variety of purposes. The characteristic pungent
smell of the rhizome is due to the presence of essential oil
rich in camphor and starch.
The rhizome is traditionally used in the treatment of hemorrhoids, leprosy, asthma, cancer, fever,
wounds, vomiting, menstrual disorder, anthelmentic, aphrodisiac, gonorrheal discharges and inflammation.
Furthermore, the smooth muscle relaxant, anti-tumour and anti-oxidant properties of Curcuma Caesia
rhizome extract had been reported.
Scientific classification Vernacular names
Kingdom Plantae Hindi Kali Haldi
Class Magnoliopsida Manipuri Yaingang Amuba or Yaimu
Order Zingiberales Marathi Kali-halad
Family Zingiberaceae Telugu Nalla Pasupu
Subfamily Zingiberoideae Bengali Kala haldi
Genus Curcuma Mizo Aihang, Ailaihan
Assamese Kalahaladhi
Malayalam Kari manjal
Sanskrit Rajani Nishaa, Nishi, Ratri.
PHYTO-CONSTITUENTS
Phytochemical Screening of n-hexane, petroleum ether
(60:80), benzene, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol, and
water extract of rhizome Curcuma caesia revealed the
presence of alkaloids, phenols, phytosterols, terpenoids,
carbohydrates, tannins, glycosides, saponins, quinones,
amino acids, oils and flavonoids.
About 30 volatile oil components were identified in
the rhizomes of Curcuma caesia by GC-MS, representing
97.48% of the oil, with camphor (28.3%),ar-tumerone
(12.3%), (Z)-Ocimine (8.2%), 1-ar-curcumene(6.8%), 1,
8-cineole (5.3%), element (4.8%),borneol (4.4%), bornyl acetate (3.3%) and curcumene (2.82%) as the
major constituents. Rastogi et al reported linalool as the major component comprising 20.42% followed
by ocimine (15.66%), 1- ar-curcumene (14.84%), zingiberol (12.60), 1, 8-cineole (9.06%), and borneol
(7.4%) as major constituent.
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTIONS
The plant originates from India and South-East Asia. It is
widely cultivated as a medicinal plant in Southeast Asian
countries. This plant is widely distributed in all over the India,
however because of its rareness, it is now been cultivated for
commercial purposes.
In India it grows in West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh,
Orissa, Bihar, North-East and Uttar Pradesh, Andhra
Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala,
Chattisgaarh, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana,
Himachal Pradesh etc. Curcuma caesiais sparsely found in
Papi Hills of East Godavari, West Godavari, and Khammam Districts of Andhra Pradesh.
TRADITIONAL USES
Traditionally, the rhizomes of Curcuma caesia are used in
treating leprosy, cancer, wounds, impotency, fertility, tooth
ache, vomiting, allergies, leucoderma, asthma, tumours,
piles, bronchitis, enlargement of the spleen, epileptic,
menstrual disorder, smooth muscle relaxant activity,
anthelmintic, aphrodisiac, gonorrheal discharges, etc. The
paste is applied on bruises, contusions and rheumatic arthritis
pains in Manipur. Decoction of fresh rhizome as anti-
diarrhoetic and to get relief from stomach ache. The Khamti
tribe of Lohit district applied the paste of fresh rhizome in
case of snake and scorpion bite. In Assam fresh rhizome juice mixed with mustard oil and is given to cattles
in dysentery. In Asian Rhizome of Curcuma caecia used for wound, pox & tumour.
PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES
• Neuropharmacological activity, • Locomotor Depressant,
• Anti-convulsant and Muscle Relaxant Effects, • Anti-oxidant Activity,
• Smooth Muscle Relaxant and Anti-asthmatic Activity • Analgesic Activity,
• Anti-fungal Activity, • Antimicrobial activity,
• Depressant and hypnotic activity, • Anti-Inflammatory activity,
• Antiemetic activity, • Anti-ulcerogenic activity,
• Anthelmintic Activity.
CLIMATE
Curcuma Caesia usually grows in moist deciduous regions. It
can be grown throughout the year if land is fertile and having
good source of irrigation. However, the best season to plant
black turmeric is monsoon or summer. It requires warm and
humid climate to grow. Keep the kali haldi plant in partial sun
in the warmer zones so as it prefers warm direct or indirect
sun. one can grow kali haldi at 10°C to 45°C temperature.
SOIL
Rich organic soil that is moist and well-drained. It is grown on
different types of soils from light black, ashy loam and red
soils clay loam. However, it grows best in a well-drained
sandy or clay loam. Keep the soil moist throughout the
growing season from spring to fall and feeding with a liquid
fertilizer in growing season is ideal. Curcuma caesia grows
well in sandy loam, acidic soils of pH 4.5–6.5. It is a partial
shade-loving species; however, it grows well in open sun
under cultivated conditions.
VARIETIES
There is no recommended variety found in black turmeric, However, among the collected materials,
accession no. IC-319760 (NBPGR) was found to give better rhizome yield.
LAND PREPARATION
The land is prepared during April - May. Before that soil is
subjected to deep ploughing, tilling during March / April.
Fertilizers and manure are mixed during April/ May. Raised
beds are prepared keeping the bed size at 45-60 cm and
height 25-30 cm. The raised beds are well irrigated before
sowing the planting material. In kali haldi, roots are the major
economic part. Thus, land should be prepared in such a way
that it should not have any hindrance in the development of
roots and get more length and girth for better quality. The
land was ploughed once with mould board plough and
harrowed twice to bring the soil to fine tilth after receiving pre-monsoon rain. Nourish the soil with plenty
of organic matter at the time of land preparation. After mixing all above fertilizer in soil the field is then
levelled by planking.
Supplementing with organic manures and fertilizers like- Vermicompost- Which provide nutrition and
earthworms to land, Neem Cake- It is organic insecticide, which is helpful to eradicate all soil borne
insects, Gypsum- It acts as a conditioner to the soil which results in soil aeration and Trichoderma- This is
fungicide which is very useful to destroy all soil borne harmful fungus. These all are beneficial in getting a
good yield of the crop
AGRO-TECHNIQUE
(A) Propagation
Rhizome/ bits or kand is the only propagation/ planting material in kali haldi. Mature and healthy
rhizomes are collected before plantation and used as a planting material. Our organization provides a
good quality planting material as well as organic fertilizers to the growers.
Rhizomes can be planted in two ways-
• Direct Sowing- it is the popular way of sowing black turmeric for which beds are prepared of height
minimum 1 feet and 1 or 2 feet wide and rhizomes are planted by keeping 2 feet x 2 feet spacing
between row to row and plant to plant.
• Nursery Preparation- Nursery is prepare 25-30 days before of plantation, where rhizomes are
sowed to make its plant. After plant gets about 1 feet height then it is transplanted to main land by
keeping 2 feet x 2 feet spacing between row to row and plant to plant.
(B) Seed Rate
For on acre land 10,000 rhizomes are required at the spacing of 2 feet x 2 feet.
(C) Sowing Technique
It mandatory that rhizomes should be sowed minimum 2-3-inch-deep in soil at the time of sowing and
immediate irrigation is required up to germination.
(D) Seed Treatment
Seed treatment is given to selected rhizomes are using chemicals and biological agents. Seed treatment
prevents pest attack after sowing. Biological agents such as Pseudomonas florescence and Trichoderma
viride can be used for seed treatment. Copper fungicides are used as chemical treatment.
(E) Irrigation
Kali haldi required a good source of irrigation in field. Around 2-3 irrigations are required during
summer and winter, there is no need of irrigation in rainy season. Also, it depends on climatic conditions
and soil quality. Over watering should be avoided.
(F) Weeding
The use of plastic mulching paper/shit is recommended to check the growth of weed and also use
pre-emergence and post-emergence weedicides are suggested. However, manual weeding can be done if
mulching shit is not used. Green mulch is also can be used to avoid weeds in land. Pruning is not necessary,
taking dried leaves off will be sufficient.
(G) Pest and Diseases
Thrips, Nematode, Ants, Termites, Rhizome rot, Blotches in leaves and Leaf spot are sometimes
observed in kali haldi cultivation. Use of organic and bioagents are recommended in this plantation.
(H) Intercropping
Kali haldi is grown as a single crop. but it may be intercropped beneath widely interrupted canopy
trees, like Moringa, Amla and Mango etc.
HARVEST MANAGEMENT
• Crop maturity and harvesting: The crop takes about eight to nine months to mature. Harvesting is
done in mid-February to March. Before digging the rhizomes, soil is moistened through irrigation, so
that the rhizomes are not injured. Injury to the rhizomes may cause decay of the harvest.
• Post-harvest management: there is no specific requirement of any drying or other operation after
harvesting. Only soil should be washed with clean water before storing it or sending it for selling.
• Yield: Estimated yield of fresh rhizomes is about 8000-9000 Kilograms per acre.
DOCUMENTATION OF ACTIVITIES
The documentation of all the activities starting from cultivation to post-harvest processing should be
in the continuation and maintained properly. Records should be kept for each activity of cultivation such
as sowing, weeding, irrigation, harvesting, and of post-harvest processing after harvest to sorting, drying,
grading, packing and storage, with details of time and type of activity that refers to a complete history and
ensure traceability of the final product.
PER ACRE COST OF CULTIVATION
S.N. PARTICULARS ACTIVITY AMOUNT (RS.)
1 Land Preparation Deep Ploughing, Leveling and other 10,000/-
2 Manure/ Fertilizers Vermicompost, Neemcake, Trichoderma 30,000/-
3 Planting Materials 400 Kilo Rhizomes @ Rs.350/per kg 140,000/-
4 Irrigation -- 10,000/-
5 Intercultural Operation Weeding, hoeing and other 10,000/-
6 Sowing To sow rhizomes in the field 15,000/-
7 Harvesting Digging our rhizomes 20,000/-
8 Post-Harvest Management Washing and transportation 10,000
9 Electricity To operate the drip system 5,000/-
Total Expenses 2,50,000/-
PER ACRE OUTPUT
YIELD PER ACRE BUYBACK PRICE/KG TOTAL SELLING PRICE
7000 Kg (wet mature rhizome) Rs.90/Kg 6,30,000/-
Total Expenses 2,50,000/-
Total Income 3,80,000/-
Contact for More Information
Mobile : 97850-15005, 98875-55005, 81073-79410, 83291-99541, 96100-02243, 78919-55005
E-mail : •atul.hcms@gmail.com, •info@iiaasd.com, •organic.naturaljpr@gmail.com,
•info@sunriseagriland.com, sunriseagrilandb2b@gmail.com
Website : •www.hcms.org.in, •www.iiaasd.com, •www.sunriseagriland.com
Important Links: •https://www.hcms.org.in/ofpai.php, •https://www.hcms.org.in/sunrise-organic-park.php
•https://www.hcms.org.in/mai-hu-kisan.php •https://www.hcms.org.in/organic-maures-and-pesticides.php
