Standardization of agro techniques for cultivation of Turmeric Curcumalonga L in mid hills of North West Himalayas

Abstract

The present investigation entitled Standardization of agro techniques for cultivation of Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) in mid hills of North West Himalayas was conducted as two separate experiments laid out in factorial randomized design with three replications during 2017 and 2018 at Agronomy Research Farm, CSK HPKV Palampur. In the first experiment response of four turmeric cultivars (Palam Lalima, Suvarna, IISR Prathibha and IISR Alleppey Supreme) at three dates of sowing (first, second fortnight of April and first fortnight of May) was evaluated. Among the turmeric cultivars Palam Lalima recorded highest fresh rhizome yield (25.10 t/ha) followed by Suvarna (18.02 t/ha) and found to be suitable for cultivation in mid hills of North West Himalayas. Palam Lalima being a locally acclimatized cultivar had earliness in germination which facilitated for adequate time to complete various crop phenophases. Thus significantly superior growth attributes viz., plant height (50.2 cm); LAI (6.43) and number of leaves/plant (9.0) were recorded in Palam Lalima. Owing to better growth attributes higher rhizome yield /plant (236.78 g) mother, primary and secondary rhizome weight had assisted Palam Lalima to attain higher rhizome yield. Among tested cultivars higher curcumin (4.73%) and oil content (6.7%) was recorded in IISR Alleppey Supreme and Suvarna respectively. Higher net returns (Rs 3,39,393/ha) and B C ratio (3.09) was observed in Palam Lalima. First and second fortnight of April was found to be optimum time for sowing turmeric under Palampur conditions as compared to first fortnight of May. Significantly higher fresh rhizome yield (18.77 and 17.77 t/ha) net return (Rs 2,00,748 and 1,92,748/ha) and B C ratio (2.23 and 2.18) was recorded when turmeric was sown in first and second fortnight of April as compared to first fortnight of May. Reduction of 10.45% in rhizome yield was noticed when turmeric was sown in first fortnight of May as compared to first fortnight of April. Palam Lalima and Suvarna performed best when they were planted during first fortnight of April as compared to first fortnight of May. Poor growth and yield attributes observed in IISR Alleppey Supreme and IISR Prathibha was due to sub optimal temperature prevailed in the experimental area. In the second experiment response of turmeric for spacing (30 cm x 20 cm and 30 cm x 30 cm) propagating material (mother and primary rhizome) and crop establishment methods (transplanting seedlings and rhizome planting) was evaluated. Significantly higher fresh rhizome yield (18.44 t/ha) was observed with spacing 30 cm x 20 cm as compared to 30 cm x 30 cm spacing. No significant difference for fresh rhizome yield was noticed when primary or mother rhizome was used as propagating material. Similarly no significant variation for rhizome yield was noticed among different crop establishment methods. However higher B C ratio was recorded when turmeric was established by transplanting seedling as compared to conventional rhizome planting. Transplanting of turmeric seedling will be an option to address the germination delay newlineproblem in Palampur region. Transplanting of turmeric seedling as a substitute for rhizome sowing will conserve 75 % of seed rhizome along with conserving farm resources viz., irrigation water and labour resulting in higher net returns. Thus in turn assist in conservation and efficient utilization of farm resources. newline