Physiology and Agronomy of Ginger (Zingiber officinale): An Empirical review

Abstract

Ginger is commonly grown for its edible rhizome which is used as spice for food and drinks. It is also known for its medicinal values; however, attaining optimum yield of this important crop is one of the major interests of farmers and researchers. This study aims to provide more insight on the physiology of ginger, aid innovative technologies and agronomic practices that will increase its productivity and production efficiency. The information and data on ginger were collected from sources like research activity reports of National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Nigeria, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Research Gate and FAOSTAT. The productivity of ginger in Nigeria is poor, hence, increasing the yield sustainably will boost food and nutrition security, provide raw material for pharmaceutical and food industries, and contribute meaningfully to economic growth through foreign exchange. However, poor crop management and limited access to viable seed, credit, unreliable rainfall pattern, diseases and pests and post-harvest losses impede ginger production and productivity. The study suggests that in-depth understanding of the crop’s physiology and sustainable solutions to the constraints will inform better agronomic practices and guide technological breakthrough that will result in increased yield and seed quality.