Turmeric planting methods and mechanization strategies: A review towards the development of a fully automatic planter

Turmeric (Curcuma longa), a major crop in India accounting for 80 % of global production, faces challenges such as pest infestations, diseases, climate change and economic volatility, necessitating precision agriculture strategies to enhance sustainability. Planting is a critical determinant of crop yield and quality; however, conventional manual methods remain labor-intensive and inefficient, underscoring the need for mechanization. Mechanical turmeric planters have been shown to decrease the cost and time associated with planting by 59.52% and 96.57 %, respectively. This review examines key turmeric planting methods, including flat-bed, ridge-and-furrow and raised-bed systems, while analyzing the engineering properties of turmeric rhizomes relevant to planter design. It has been found that ridge planting has produced 86.78 q ha-1 of yield compared to flat-bed planting of 67.26 q ha-1 and raised bed planting significantly reduced disease incidence, with only 9.6 % leaf spot and no rhizome rot observed, compared to 22.5 % leaf spot using the flat bed method. The evolution of planting technology from manual to semi-automatic and fully automatic systems is discussed, along with a critical assessment of metering mechanisms such as vertical rotating discs, multistage rotating cups and auger conveyors. The influence of furrow opener design and operational parameters, including planting speed and accuracy, on field performance was also reviewed. By identifying research gaps related to the impact of rhizome properties on planter efficiency, this study concludes that optimized automatic planters tailored to turmeric’s specific agronomic requirements can enhance planting precision, improve productivity and contribute to sustainable cultivation practices.