Productivity and Quality of Turmeric . (Curcuma Longa L.) Under Different Nutritional Level Supplemented Through Organic and :u:norganic Sources

Abstract

Thesis title: "Productivity and quality of Turmeric (Curcuma longa L) under different nutritional level supplemented through organic and inorganic sources" ABSTRACT A field experiment was conducted on Turmeric ( Curcuma longa L )with a variety of AZAD HALDI-1 during 2011-12 and 2012-13 on sandy loam soil at HRC of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology , Meerut . The experiment aimed to evaluating the effect of different organic and inorganic nutrients on the productivity, soil properties, quality (essential oil and curcumin %) and economic of turmeric .The experiment was laid out in the randomized block design with 10 treatments and 3 replications. The treatments comprised the T1-(Control) , T2 -(100% RDF NPK), T3- ( 125% N + RDF PK), T4- ( 125% P + RDF NK), Ts-(125% K + RDF NP ), T6-( 125% NPK), T7- (100% NPK + FYM@ 20 tha-1), Ta-(75%NPK + FYM@ 30 tha-1),T9-(50% NPK + FYM @ 50 tha-1)and T10-( (25% NPK + FYM @ 80 tha-1). The results revealed that application of N.P.K in different combination or with FYM in different doses did not affect the soil pH significantly. However, the treatments with _FYM showed a slight depressing effect on pH at all the stages of sampling whereas EC differ significantly under different treatments over where no fertilizer was applied. Bulk density was not affected significantly by different treatments. However more reduction in BD was noticed in those treatments where 125 % NPK or 100 % NPK with 20 tha-1 FYM was applied .These two treatments distinctly showed the improvements in OC %, availability of N, P, and Kin soil at all the stages of samplings and found superior over control. Uptake of N, P, K by turmeric under T6 was found significantly higher than control. The study indicated that turmeric showed better response of the application of 125 % NPK or 100 % NPK + FYM @ 20 tha-1 on growth parameters like plant heights, no of leaves and no of shoots /plant and yield attributes like primary fingers, secondary fingers, mother rhizomes over control as a results significantly higher yield was noticed under these treatments. Impact of different sources ( Organic and inorganic ) of nutrients were also studied on quality parameters like essential oil and curcumin and it was found that more essential oil and cur cumin was noticed in these treatments over control. Amongst the applied sources of nutrients maximum net income (Rs. 557489 average of both the year) was obtained from T6 over control (Rs. 205949 average of both. th~ years) which was the best economical treatment. The study thus suggests that apphca!1on of balance mineral fertilizer @ 125 % NPK of RDF or in combination with FY~ I.e. 100.% NPK + FYM @ 20 tha-1 sustain a better soil physico- chemical environment, h1gher crop production and more essential oil and curcumin with more than three B : C ratio under sandy loam soil.