Influence of Integrated Nutrient Management on Growth Attributes, Yield and Soil Chemical Parameters of Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.)

Abstract

There is a growing need for Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) in turmeric cultivation due to declining soil fertility, the excessive use of chemical fertilizers, and the increasing demand for sustainable agricultural practices. To evaluate the effectiveness of INM in turmeric, a field study was conducted during the kharif season of 2022–2023 at the Regional Research Station (Vegetable Science), CCS HAU, Karnal. The study focused on assessing the impact of various INM treatments on soil fertility and yield of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) grown on clay loam soil. The experiment consisted of ten treatments viz., control, recommended dose of fertilizer (N:P:K-100:50:50), 50% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), 75% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), FYM @ 25 t ha-1, 50%  RDF + FYM @ 25 t ha-1, 75% RDF + FYM @ 25 t ha-1, vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1, 50% RDF + vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1 and 75% RDF + vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1. Significantly higher number of tillers per plant (3.67) were recorded in the treatment with 75% RDF+ FYM @ 25 t ha-1. Maximum plant emergence (84.66%), leaf area index, plant height (14.04 cm), and yield were observed with 75% RDF + vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1. The physico-chemical properties of the soil such as bulk density, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, and pH were not significantly affected by the different integrated nutrient management treatments. However, available nitrogen and phosphorus were found to be significantly highest, i.e., 192.60 kg ha-1 and 25.8 kg ha-1 respectively, in the treatment with 75% RDF + vermicompost @ 5 t/ha. In contrast, the highest available potassium (186.81 kg ha-1) was recorded in the treatment receiving 75% RDF + FYM @ 25 t/ha.