Growth, yield, and quality responses of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) to nitrogen fertilizer rate and timing of its application

Abstract

Soil fertility decline is one of the factors that result in low productivity of turmeric (<em>Curcuma longa</em>, Zingiberaceae Lindl.,) in Ethiopia. An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of N rate and time of application on growth, yield, and quality of turmeric crops in Ethiopia. The trial consisted of five N rates: 0, 46, 69, 92, 115 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>, and five split application times: full dose at emergence, two times (1/2), three times (1/3), four times (1/4), and five times (1/5) equally split applications, arranged in a split plot design with three replications. Plant heights, tiller number per plant, pseudo-stem girth, mother and finger rhizome numbers and weights, fresh rhizome yield, oleoresin and essential oil contents – all were significantly affected by the interaction effects of N rate and time of application. The three times split application of 115 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> produced higher values of these crop characteristics. This application rate also produced a better yield and quality than did two times of application, the most commonly used practice. Therefore, turmeric producers in southwestern Ethiopia should apply 115 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> in three equally split applications to improve turmeric yield and quality.

Genotypic and Environmental Influence on Fresh Rhizome Yield of Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.)

“…One result of closer spacing is lower fresh rhizome yield per plant [25]. This is probably the reason that our fresh weight per plant (0.52-2.58 kg plant −1 ) generally exceeds previously published plant yields (0.09-0.80 kg plant −1 ) [22,24,[26][27][28][29]. Lower yields per plant at closer spacings are compensated for by higher plant numbers per hectare, resulting comparable yields when compared at the t ha −1 level.…”

Essential oil chemotypes of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) cultivated in four different farmers in Southwest of Paraná State - Brazil

“…The soil microbiological analysis showed a significant increase of MB-C in the C4 Nova Sessão property, indicating better soil quality, as the MB-C is directly related to the greater absorption and storage of carbon, nutrients, and minerals (Table 1). These compounds are fundamental for plant growth and for the yield and chemical composition of EO (Mekonnen & Garedew, 2019;Ferrari et al, 2020 a, b). The property at C4 uses domestic organic compost, made from food husks, dried leaves and poultry manure.…”

“…It is an easy-to-cultivate species and has the advantage of not requiring special agronomic treatments. The quality and quantity of secondary metabolites of turmeric EO maybe associated with its planting region, soil and climate (Sandeep et al, 2016;Akbar et al, 2018;Mekonnen & Garedew, 2019;Aarthi et al, 2020;Pal et al, 2020;Quemel et al, 2021), in addition to genetic and morphological factors (Aarthi et al, 2020;Ferrari et al, 2020b). In this way, the present study aimed to analyse the microbiological soil quality, determinate the EO yield and the phytochemical profile…”

Research achievements and recommendations in crop management for enhancing the productivity of spices: A review

“…Besides the fertilizer rate of application, the time of applying fertilizer on turmeric was studied and reported by Mekonnen and Garedew (2019). They reported that the timing of N fertilizer application had a significant effect on the growth, yield, and quality of turmeric.…”