MSc

Ginger (Zingiber officinale L. is one of the oldest rhizomatous herbaceouos perennial crop grown as an annual in Kerala. Kerala has an important role in production and export of ginger. Due to different challenges ginger cultivation is declining now a days. In orde to overcome the situation ecofriendly inputs like nano fertilizers and growth stimulants having high nutrient use efficiency may be used. Hence the present study was conducted to understand the effect of nano-NPK fertilizers and Humic acid on growth yield and quality of ginger.
The investigation on "Physiological studies on enhancing growth and yeield of ginger (Zingiber officinale L.) by Nano-NPK fertilizers and organic management" was undertaken with the objective to understand the effect of Nano-NPK on growth, quality and yeild of ginger. The experiment was carried out at RARS, farm Nileshwaram, College of Agriculture, Padannakkad during 2017-18.
The field experiment ws carried out in randomized block desigh with ten treatments and three replications. The treatment combinations were control (T1), PoP NPK fertizers as Nano-NPK granules @ 25 kg ha-1 (T2),T1+ Nano NPK foliar @ 0.5% (T3), T2 + Nano NPK foliar @ 0.5% (T4) T1+humic acid foliar @ 0.5%(T5), T2+Humanic acid foliar @ 0.5%(T6),T3+Humic acid foliar @0.5%(T7), T4+Humic acid foliar @0.5%(T8), organic managent (T9) and water spray (T10). Foliar application of humic acid and Nano-NPK were done at 60, 90, 120,150 and 75, 105, 135, 165 DAP at 30 day intervals respectively.
The application of different nano based treatments caused significant improvement in morphological, physiological, yield and quality parameters of ginger crop. Morphological observations were recorded at 60, 90 aand 120 DAP. Plants grown under organic management recorded maximum plant height, which was 23.72% higher than control (T1). However, nano fertilizers had a positive influence on tillering per plant. The number of tillers were higher for Nano-NPK granule application followed by foliar spray.
Physiological observations were taken at an interval of 60, 120 and 180 DAP. Parameters like RGR, rhizome shoot ratio, LAI chlorophyll content, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance were higher for the plants treated with Nano-NPK fertilizers either as spray or soil application along with humic acid (T8). The content of NPK in the leaves also higher in the above treatments.
Estimation of rhizome characters at 60, 120, 180, DAP and at harvest revealed that though organic management (T9) contributed to significant improvement in total biomass it was not reflected in the final yield. Number, volume and capacity of the sink (rhizome)was higher in T8 T4+Humic acid foliar @ 0.5%) as compared to T9 (organic management).
The effect of treatments on quality parameters at harvest stage showed that oleresin, volatile oil and crude fibre content of the rhizomes varied significantly with treatments. Application of Nano-NPK both in granular form and foliar contributed to highest content of all the above three parameters in all treatments. However, among nano based treatments, T4 gave higher volatile oil, oleresin and crude fibre.
The results obtained from this experiment clearly indicated that application of fertilizers in the form of nano-NPK granules and foliar sprays at frequent intervals improved the nutrient use efficiency of the plant, thereby improving the physiological processes and increasing the yield and quality of poduce.