Effect of planting date, weight of rhizome and spacing on the growth, yield and quality constituents on turmeric (Curcuma longa L.)

Abstract

A split-split plot experiment was conducted during 1981-82 at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara using Kasturi Tanuka as the test variety with a view to arriving at the optimum time of planting, spacing and weight of planting material mat can be advocated for commercial cultivation of turmeric. The treatments were early Hay, middle of May and early June planting, 10 x 20 cm, 15 x 20 ea and 20 x 20 cm spacing sad 20 g, 40 g and 60 g weight of the planting aaterial. She crop performance was analysed based on germination, growth and yield parameters. She percentage germination was higher for the early June planted crop with 20 x 20 ca spacing and 60 g planting material. It was observed that the giant growth characters like number of leaves per plant and mean leaf area were significantly influenced by all the three treatments. She height of the plant as well as the length of mother rhizomes were significantly influenced by time of planting and weight of planting material. She effects of spacing and weight of planting material were manifested significantly in the tiller production.