Growth and yield of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) as influenced by different rooting media and different size of rhizomes

Abstract

The investigation entitled “Propagation studies in turmeric (curcuma longa L.)” was carried out during the kharif season at Main Agriculture Research Station, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, Karnataka during 2018-19. Effect of different types of rhizome planting material and rooting media on growth, yield and economics were recorded and statistically analyzed. The influence of effect of types of rhizome planting material and rooting media on growth parameters higher values with respect to percentage of establishment (99.17), plant height (85.37 cm), number of leaves (17.93) and girth of the stem (3.40 cm) was observed in primary rhizomes planted in mixture of cocopeat and vermicompost. Leaf area (7232.65 cm2), leaf area index (5.35) was higher in direct planted mother rhizomes and number of tillers (3.27) was higher in secondary rhizomes in mixture of cocopeat and vermicompost. Similar trend of higher fresh weight of mother rhizome (111.80 g), primary rhizome (166.87 g) and secondary rhizomes (55.93 g) per clump, fresh rhizome yield per clump (384.47 g), per plot (12.75 kg) and per hectare (23.60 t) was higher in primary rhizomes planted in mixture of cocopeat and vermicompost. On other hand the benefit cost ratio recorded maximum of 6.71 in disc with single bud in mixture of cocopeat and vermicompost.