Performance Evaluation of Fertigation of N and K on Yield and Water Use Efficiency of Turmeric through Drip Irrigation

Field experiments were conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Bhavanisagar (India) during 2004–05 and 2005–06 to study the effect of drip irrigation and N and K fertigation on the yield and water use efficiency of turmeric. The results revealed that drip irrigation at 80 and 60% of PE once in 2 days and fertigation levels of 125, 100 and 75% of N and K produced higher yields (32.9 to 41.96) t ha⁻¹ during first and second crop) which were superior over other levels of irrigation. Irrigation water saving of 34 and 46% during 2004–05 and 21 and 34% during 2005–06, respectively were recorded in drip irrigation at 80 and 60% PE. Water use efficiency in drip irrigation treatments were 51.34, 56.85 and 62.70 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ during 2004–05 with 40, 45 and 47% during 2005–06 in drip irrigation at 80, 60 and 40% PE once in 2 days, respectively as compared to 25.11 and 22.00 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ in surface irrigation with increased B/C ratio of 3.69 to 4.16. Irrigating at 60% PE will produce profitable yield as compared to other treatments.