Plants
turmeric
Curcuma longa L.
Family: Zingiberaceae · Genus: Curcuma
Indian saffron
Aromatic tropical orange-yellow rhizome. Pasini lists it in the low stratum of Tabela 3 and in the '3 to 10 years' phase of Tabela 4 (low stratum). Ideal understory species; rhizomes harvested at the end of the dry season.
Götsch succession
- Götsch stage
- Placenta I
- Ecological role
- Pioneer
- Primary stratum
- Low
- Strata
- Low
- Biomass class
- No biomass production
Environment
- Light requirement
- Partial shade
- Water requirement
- High
- Drought tolerance
- Low
- Soil pH range
- 6–7
- Preferred soil texture
- Loamy, Sandy, Clayey
- Hardiness zones
- 8–11
Morphology
- Mature height
- 0.6–1 m
- Recommended spacing
- 0.15–0.3 m
- Growth rate
- Very fast
- Lifespan
- ≤ 2 years
- Time to first harvest
- 9 months
Biomes & climate
- Atlantic Forest Suitable
- Cerrado Suitable
Köppen classes
- Tropical savanna with dry winter (Aw) Suitable
- Subtropical with dry winter (Cwa) Suitable
- Humid subtropical (Cfa) Suitable
Where it fits in a guild
Turmeric takes the Low stratum in the Placenta I phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.
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❓ Frequently asked questions
How long until the first harvest of turmeric?
The first harvest of turmeric comes around 9 months after planting.
What spacing is recommended for turmeric?
The recommended spacing for turmeric is 0.15–0.3 m.
How tall does turmeric grow?
At maturity, turmeric reaches 0.6–1 m tall.
What stage and stratum does turmeric occupy in a syntropic system?
In a syntropic system, turmeric belongs to the placenta i stage, occupying the low stratum.
Functions
Propagation
Division
Citations
- Pasini, F. & Guimarães, L. (2017) — Tabela 3 (Incaper) , p. 116 (primary_stratum)
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Curcuma longa (ph_min, ph_max, hardiness_zone_min, hardiness_zone_max, spacing_min_m, spacing_max_m, soil_texture_preference)
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Curcuma longa L. (gbif_taxon_key, family, genus)
- Plants of the World Online (Kew) — Curcuma longa L. (powo_id)
External references
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