Evaluation of turmeric cultivars for shade tolerance

Abstract

An experiment, 'Evaluation of turmeric cultivars for shade tolerance' was conducted during May 1990 to February 1991 at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, Thrissur, Kerala, India. Two separate trials were carried out one under artificial shade and the other under natural shade in coconut garden. The trial under artificial shade was to assess the performance of turmeric cultivars under different shade levels, whereas that under natural shade was to test the fitness of these cultivars as intercrops in coconut garden. Trial under artificial shade was laid out in split plot design with four shade levels, 0, 25, 50 and 75 per cent in the main plots and six cultivars PCT-5, BSR-1, Ethamukulam, PTS-9, PCT-8 and PTS-38 in the subplots. For providing shade, pandals were erected on wooden frames and covered with unplaited coconut fronds to provide desired levels of shade. LI-COR integrating quantum radiometer with line quantum sensor was used for adjusting the shade intensities. Though no . significant difference was observed between cultivars at different shade levels, all cultivars gave highest rhizome yield at 50 per cent shade. Hence turmeric may be calssified as a shade tolerant/shade loving crop. Yield parameters such as drymatter production and harvest index were also more at 50 and 75 per cent shade, respectively. Among the cultivars P C T -8 , the highest yielder gave higher values for drymatter production, harvest index, chlorophyll content and percentage dryage. On analysing the performance of different cultivars at varying shade intensities; all the cultivars i were found to be better at 50 per cent shade, above which there was a declining trend in yield. The treatment differences were, however, not significant. In general, PCT-8 and PTS-9 performed better both under shade and in the open. Though different prediction models were tried, no model was found to be a good fit for the cultivars. Under natural shade, similar performance was exhibited by all the five cultivars tested with respect to rhizome yield, growth and yield attributes. However, BSR-1 outyielded the other cultivars. The same cultivar recorded more, content of chlorophyll, curcumin and oleoresin. In general, the performance of all the cultivars was poor under intercropping in coconut garden