Impact of bamboo based agroforestry system on yield and quality of turmeric (Curcuma longa) grown in entisols

Abstract

A field experiment with randomized block design (RBD) with 3 replication and 9 treatments was conducted at the AICRP on Agroforestry, College of Agriculture, Nagpur (Maharashtra) during the Kharif season of 2023-24 at research farm. The treatments included turmeric with T1-open plot, T2-Bambusa vulgaris, T3-Dendrocalamus longipathus, T4- Bambusa tulda, T5-Bambusa cacherensis, T6-Dendrocalamus stocksii, T7-Bambusa polymorpha, T8-Bambusa balcooa, and T9-Dendrocalamus strictus with application of recommended dose of fertilizer (120;60;60 NPK kg ha-1) in each treatment. The results showed that, yield of turmeric was highest in open plot (235.18 q ha-1) than under different bamboo species, while Bambusa tulda (230.93 q ha-1) and Bambusa balcooa (220 q ha-1) showed relatively higher yield of turmeric than other bamboo species. Curcumin content (%) was found to be significantly higher in shade under bamboo-based agroforestry than open. Dendrocalamus stocksii (3.99%) shows highest curcumin percentage followed closely by Dendrocalamus longipathus (3.94%) and Bambusa cacherensis (3.92%) and turmeric in open plot shows lowest Curcumin % (3.37).