Effect of Different Types of Organic Mulches on Growth and Yield of Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.)

Abstract

An experiment has been conducted at the Agriculture Research Farm in Raja Balwant Singh Collage Bichpuri Agra, for two season of crop in consecutive years from 2021-22 and 2022-23 to the study of effect different organic mulches in relation to growth and yield of turmeric under different types of organic mulches. Turmeric crop is severely overrun with weeds during initial stages. A more extended weed-free interval is essential for sustaining a healthy plant population, enhancing plant growth, and increasing rhizome yield. The availability of labor during essential weed control phases of the crop increases the pressure on weed management, and the turmeric crop is also sensitive to soil moisture throughout its growing season. Organic mulching serves as an excellent alternative for managing weeds and enhancing water use efficiency. In this experiment, various organic mulches such as dry grass, paddy straw, wheat straw, and coir pith were utilized as organic mulching materials, while the absence of any mulch served as the control. The experiment was conducted using a randomized block design and replicated three times. The research trial resulted that the plants with paddy straw as mulch recorded maximum plant height (138.76cm) in wheat straw mulch, maximum number of tillers (5.56), maximum number of mother rhizomes (3.23), maximum mean fresh rhizome yield (34.90 t/ha) followed by wheat straw as mulch (32.41 t/ha) as compared to other mulches and control (Without mulching).