Abstract:
An experiment was conducted at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani during the year 1993-1994 to explore the possibility of reducing the size of planting material in ginger using mini-seed rhizomes.
The field experiments were laid out in a split plot design with four varieties (Kuruppampady, Maran, Nedumangadu and Rio-de-Janeiro) and three rhizome sizes (5,10and 15g) replicated four times both under open and intercropped conditions.
The pot culture study to standardize a soaking treatment for ginger rhizomes revealed that “soaking rhizomes in water for 24 hours, 10 days prior to planting”, to be the best treatment.
Increasing the size of rhizomes resulted in increased sprouting percentage. Under open and intercropped conditions, rhizomes weighing 15g recorded the highest sprouting. Size of seed rhizomes influenced the growth parameters namely, plant height, number of tillers and number of leaves per plant, LAI, DMP, NAR, CGR, BR, HI, UI and top yield. It is seen that the performance of plants raised from 10 and 15g with respect to growth parameters were not significantly different.
Green ginger yield increased with increasing rhizome size both under open and intercropped condition. Plant raised from rhizomes weighing 5g recorded the smallest yield and was inferior to other treatments. Plants from rhizomes weighing 15g recorded the highest green ginger yield. The difference in yield between plants obtained from 10 and 15g was marginal and statistically insignificant. Plants raised from rhizomes weighing 10 and 15g gave higher dry ginger yields in all the four varieties compared to plants from 5g. However, the difference in yield between plants raised from 10 and 15g rhizome bits were insignificant.
The size of rhizomes did not cause difference in quality components like volatile oil and starch in all varieties but it induced small variations in NVEE and crude fibre.
The study suggested that the size of rhizomes, varieties and shade influenced the growth, yield and quality of ginger. Throughout the crop period the plants raised from 10 and 15g gave similar performance. Green ginger and dry ginger yield obtained from 10 and 15g rhizome bits were statistically on par under open and intercropped conditions. The study revealed the possibilities of reducing the seed size from 15 to 10g. The cost benefit analysis indicated that use of mini-seed rhizome, weighing 10g, is more profitable under shade. Using a smaller seed size will also help to contribute more produce to the market.
