Ajwain (Carom Seed) Cultivation in India: Tip for Successful Farming Practices

Table of Contents

• An Overview of Ajwain or Carom Seed
• What are Some of the Different Varieties of Ajwain?
• What is the Step-by-Step Process of Ajwain (Carom Seed) Cultivation?
  • Soil
  • Climate
  • Land Preparation
  • Sowing & Seed Rate
  • Intercropping System
  • Irrigation
  • Fertilization
  • Weed Management
  • Plant Protection
  • Harvesting & Yield
• Which are the top Ajwain Producing States in India?

An Overview of Ajwain or Carom Seed

Ajwain or Ajowan is an annual herb in the family of Apiaceae. Around the world it is known by many different names – ajowan caraway, thymol seeds, bishop's weed, or Carom seed. Both the leaves and the seed‑like fruit of the plant are edible. The seeds are small and oval in shape and have a pungent taste. It is believed that Ajwain originated in the eastern Mediterranean/Middle East (Egypt/Persia) and eventually made it to the Indian shore through means of trade. Apart from its culinary applications, Ajwain offers numerous health benefits due to its active compound, thymol, which aids digestion and alleviates bloating. It also has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.

What are Some of the Different Varieties of Ajwain?

Here are some of the different varieties of Ajwain grown in India:

What is the Step-by-Step Process of Ajwain (Carom Seed) Cultivation?

In the section below, we explain some of the most important stages in Ajwain farming, ranging from soil and climate needs, seed rate, sowing, the best intercropping system, and harvesting methods.

Soil

Ajwain grows best in well-drained loamy or sandy loam soils with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH of 6.5 to 8.5. The soil should also be rich in organic matter and not highly acidic. Before planting, it is essential to conduct a soil test to assess nutrient levels, pH, and organic content, and apply necessary amendments based on the results. It is recommended to avoid gravely/sandy soils because the crop does not grow well in these types of conditions.

Climate

It is a semi-arid tropical crop, primarily grown during the rabi season. However, in some regions of the country such as Rajasthan, Gujrat, and Madhya Pradesh, it is also grown as a late Kharif crop. Ajwain requires moderate cool and dry climate and a temperature ranging from 15 to 27ºC for optimal growth. The humidity level should be around 60-70% during its growth period, whereas during the seed development stage warm weather is considered preferrable.

Land Preparation

Begin the process of land preparation with deep ploughing of the soil. It is done with the help of a plough, then followed by 2-3 lighter ploughings with a harrow or cultivator. After each ploughing, perform Planking to help conserve soil moisture. In termite-prone areas, use 20-25 kg/ha of quinalphos (1.5%) or methyl parathion (3%) powder during the final ploughing.

Sowing & Seed Rate

For Ajwain, seeds should be planted about 1 cm deep with spacing of either 30 cm × 30 cm or 30 cm × 10 cm. To maximize yield, schedule sowing in such a way so that seed development and maturity occur during a dry, rain-free period. The recommended seed rates are: 1 kg/ha for mixed cropping, 1.5 kg/ha for monocropping by drilling, 4 kg/ha for monocropping by broadcasting, 2.5–3.0 kg/ha for Rabi season crops, and 4–5 kg/ha for Kharif season crops.

Intercropping System

The most preferred intercropping system for Ajwain is double cropping. In this type of sequential cropping, two crops per year are grown in sequence. Here are some of the recommended intercropping combinations for Ajwain crop:

• Green gram + Black gram – Coriander + Ajwain
• Maize + Pearl-millet – Fenugreek + Ajwain
• Cluster-bean + Cowpea – Dill/Ajwain + Coriander

Irrigation

Ajwain can be grown under both rainfed and irrigated conditions. The first irrigation should be given immediately after sowing, which is followed by another light irrigation after 4-5 days to promote germination. Subsequent irrigation can be provided at an interval of 15 – 25 days, depending on soil type and climate. It is extremely important to maintain a proper drainage system in order to prevent waterlogging.

Fertilization

Start by adding 10 tons of well decomposed FYM or compost evenly across the area before ploughing. For irrigated conditions, apply 30 kg nitrogen (N), 40 kg phosphorus (P₂O₅), and 30 kg potassium (K₂O) per hectare to the soil. Additionally, split an extra 30 kg of nitrogen into two equal doses: one at 45 days after sowing and the other just before flowering. Under rainfed conditions, apply 40 kg N, 20 kg P₂O₅, and 20 kg K₂O per hectare at the time of sowing for best results.

Weed Management

Ensuring weed-free surroundings is necessary for achieving better growth and yield rates. Manual weeding is highly advised as the seed will begin to grow, and employing chemicals can damage the crop. Weeding and hoeing must be done manually 2-3 times. The initial weeding should be done after 30 days of sowing, followed by row thinning while maintaining the recommended intra row spacing. Weeding is done at 30-day intervals as necessary.

Plant Protection

Even though Ajwain crops are less susceptible to pests and diseases. However, it is still important to take the right plant protection measures as aphids, seed bugs, midges, root rot, and powdery mildew can occasionally affect crops.

Insects & Pest

Aphids: Ajwain crop can be infested by aphid which affects the leaves and tender stems get devitalized and dried later on.

Control

• Aphids can be controlled by spraying Imidachlorprid (0.005%), Thiomethoxam (0.025%), Dimethoate (0.33%). Repeat second spray after 10-15 days if necessary.
• Applications of resin soap or Neem Seed Kernel Extract (NSKE) 5%, Neem oil (2%) at an early stage can also prevent it.

Diseases

Root rot: It is soil-borne disease which comes with symptoms that include varying degrees of rotting of the root leading of foliage yellowing generally in 30 – 45 day–old plants. The affected plants later on wither and dry up.

Control

• Treat the seed with Thiram or Captan @ 3 g/kg of seed.
• Soil application of neem cake @ 150 kg/ha and seed pelleting with antagonistic fungi like Trichoderma viride, T. harzianum (Talc based formulation @ 6 g/kg of seed) can be used to manage the disease.

Powdery mildew: The symptoms for Powdery mildew include the appearance of whitish fungal growth on leaves.

Control

• Dust with Sulphur (25 kg/ha) or spray wettable Sulphur or Karathane (0.1%) twice at flowering stage at 15 days interval.

Harvesting & Yield

Ajwain crop matures in 130-180 days depending upon the variety and season. The seeds usually develop in umbels and appear brown in colour when fully matured. The harvesting period for the crop is between February and May and is usually harvested manually and stacked up for drying. Average seed yield can be around 4-6 q/ha under rain fed conditions and 12-15 kg/ha under irrigated conditions.

Which are the top Ajwain Producing States in India?

India’s Ajwain production for the year 2023 – 2024 was around 37.90 thousand tonnes. Gujarat is the largest producer of Ajwain in India, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh. Below is the state wise production data of Ajwain cultivation in India: