Effect of different nutrient levels on yield and yield attributing characters and sources on the quality (oil contents and curcumin) of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.)

The investigation was carried out using various research materials and analytical techniques at Horticulture Research Center of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut, UP, India. To achieve the objectives 10 different treatments were tested in randomized block design with three replications. The treatments description is (T₁)-Control, (T₂)-00% NPK RDF (150: 60: 108 kg ha⁻¹), (T₃)-125% N+RDF PK (188: 60: 108 kg ha⁻¹), (T₄)-125% P + RDF NK (150: 75: 108 kg ha⁻¹), (T₅)-125% K +RDF PN (150: 60: 135 kg ha⁻¹), (T₆)-125% NPK (188: 75: 135 kg ha⁻¹), (T₇)-100% NPK + FYM @ 20 tha⁻¹, (T₈)-75% NPK + FYM @ 30 tha⁻¹, (T₉)-50% NPK + FYM @50 tha⁻¹ and (T₁₀)-25%NPK + FYM @ 80 tha⁻¹. At 45 DAP, the maximum and minimum plant height was recorded in T₁ and T₆ during both the years. At 90 DAP, plant height of turmeric varied from 29.67 to 69.00 cm during 2011–12 and 29.07 to 66.73 cm during 2012–13. At this stage also, the treatment effect on plant height was similar to that observed at 45 DAP. The plant height at 135 DAP, varied from 37.40 to 85.77 cm during 2011–12 &, 35.33 to 81.33 cm during 2012–13. In the treatments of integration, number of leaves increased from the numbers recorded in previous stage during both the years. Maximum number of leaves at this stage was recorded in T₇ during both the years. The highest yield contributing character with about 45% share in total yield is mother rhizomes which is most important character. It varied from 7.83 to 18.32 tha⁻¹ and 8.07 to 19.28 tha⁻¹ during 2011–12 and 2012–13, respectively. Minimum and maximum values were given by control and T₆, respectively. T₇ was not significantly different from T₆. Minimum and maximum content was found in T₁ and T₆, respectively. The next highest value was obtained in T₇. Approximately 55% increase in curcumin in T₆ was found due to addition application of 25% NPK over control. The results were significant over control and within different treatments.