MSc

A study entitled "Standardization of organic manuring in kasthuri turmeric (Curcuma aromatica Salisb.)" was carried out at the Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, during 2010-2011 to formulate a cost effective organic manurial recommendation for commercial cultivation of kasthuri turmeric.
The experiment was laid out in RBD with nine treatments and three replications. The treatments consisted of different doses and combinations of three organic manures viz., FYM, vermicompost and neemcake plus a combination of microbial inoculants viz., Azospirillum, Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), Trichoderma and Pseudomonas. The treatments were M1 d (T1) - FYM 40.0 t ha-1 + mi, M2 d (T2) - Vermicompost (VC) 25.0 t ha-1 + mi, M3 d (T3) - Neemcake (NC) 6.0 t ha-1 + mi, M1 d/2 (T4) - FYM 20.0 t ha-1 + mi, M2 d/2 (T5) -Vermicompost 12.5 t ha-1 + mi, M3 d/2 (T6) - Neemcake 3.0 t ha-1 + mi, M4 d (T7) - FYM 20.0 t ha-1 + VC 6.25 t ha-1 + NC 1.5 t ha-1 + mi, M4 d/2 (T8) - FYM 20.0 t ha-1 + VC 3.125 t ha-1 + NC 0.75 t ha-1 + mi and M0 d0 (T9) - Absolute control with no organic manures and microbial inoculants.
The results revealed that application of different organic manures along with microbial inoculants significantly influenced the morphological characters, biochemical and physiological parameters, nutrient uptake, dry matter production and ultimately the yield and yield attributes in kasthuri turmeric. A general improvement in the soil physical, chemical and biological properties was noticed in the experimental plots, after the experiment.
Treatment M2 d recorded significantly superior values for plant height, leaf area, rhizome and root characters followed by M3 d and M4 d and M1 d. No significant difference in tiller production was noticed by the treatments but highest number of leaves was recorded in M3 d/2.
Highest fresh and dry rhizome yield was produced by M2 d. Equivalent yield was also obtained from M3 d. Significantly superior yields compared to control were also registered by M4 d, M1 d, M2 d/2 and M4 d/2. All these treatments recorded significantly lesser crop duration than control.
All treatments except M3 d/2 and M1 d/2 were equally effective in giving better dry matter production than control. M2 d affected the biomass accumulation most favourably, followed by M3 d, and M4 d.In the case of leaf area index, M4 d was found to have the most significant influence throughout the crop growth period followed by M2 d. In all other treatments also significant increase in the leaf area index over control (M0 d0) was noticed. All treatments recorded significantly superior harvest index than control.
In the case of biochemical characters like volatile oil, non volatile ether extract and starch M2 drecorded the highest values followed by M3 d and M4 d and same treatments recorded lower crude fibre content also. However, no significant difference in leaf chlorophyll and rhizome curcumin content was noticed among the treatments.
After the experiment an improvement in the soil physical and chemical properties was recorded in all plots. A general reduction in soil bulk density and an increase in the water holding capacity of the soil was recorded in all plots after the experiment. However, a significant difference among the treatments was not noticed. Soil pH range of the experimental field remained same after the experiment (6.38-6.59), while an increase in the electrical conductivity was noticed in all the treatments.An increase in organic carbon was noticed in all treatments including control (M0 d0) after the experiment. General increase in available N, P and K was noticed in all plots with highest values in higher doses of organic manures (M3 d, M2 d, M1d and M4 d) applied plots.
Highest N uptake was observed with full dose application of vermicompost, neem cake and combination application (M2 d, M3 d and M4 d). Significantly superior P uptake was noticed with full dose application of organic manures (M1 d, M2 d and M3 d) with the combined application recording the highest value (M4 d). Lower dose of organic manures though with microbial inoculants, recorded lower uptake of P. Application of organic manures like neemcake and vermicompost along with microbial inoculants either singly or in combination (M1 d, M2 d, M3 d and M4 d) had significant influence on the uptake of K, as observed from the present study. Pest and disease incidence was observed very less in present experiment.
The treatment M3 d was found the best treatment for reducing the phytopathogenic bacterial population in the soil. Maximum reduction of pathogenic fungal population was found in the treatment M3 d/2 whereas, in the case of actinomycetes it was observed in the treatment M2 d/2. Throughout the growth stages, all treatments recorded significantly superior root colonization than control. At 2 and 4 MAP, M1 d recorded significantly superior root colonization, but at 6 MAP, M3 d/2 recorded significantly superior value.
In the cost benefit analysis, highest net income was obtained from M3 d (Rs. 4, 67,935 /-) followed by M2 d (Rs. 4, 16,796 /-) and M4 d (Rs. 4, 05,390 /-). Treatment M3 d recorded the highest B: C ratio (3.05) followed by M3 d/2 (2.92). Better B: C ratios were also observed with treatments M4 d/2, M1 d/2, M4 d, M1 d and M2 d/2 (2.57, 2.55, 2.53, 2.49 and 2.43 respectively). M2 d recorded a B: C ratio of 2.37.
Economic analysis revealed that, treatments M3 d, M3 d/2 and M4 d/2 recorded the higher B: C ratios. Hence, treatment M3 d (Neemcake 6.0 t ha-1 + mi) can be considered as the best cost effective organic manurial recommendation for kasthuri turmeric cultivation.