Organic mulches affecting yield, quality and diseases of ginger in mid hills of North Eastern Himalayas

Field experiments were conducted during 2004–09 at ICAR Sikkim Centre, Tadong at an altitude of 1,400m AMSL to identify suitable organic mulch material for higher yield and dsisease suppression in local ginger cv. Bhaisey. Green leaves of Artemisia vulgaris, Schima wallichii, Eupatorium odoratum, Alnus nepalensis and Datura spp. were used as organic mulches. Among the different tree leaf mulches used in ginger, the maximum yield was recorded for Schima wallichii (35,388.40 kg/ha) which was followed by Datura spp. (21766.80 kg/ha). The highest incidence of bacterial wilt (38%), soft rot (48%), and leaf spot (40%) was recorded in the control plots, whereas the lowest incidence of bacterial wilt (8%), soft rot (12%) and leaf spot (35%) was recorded under S. wallichii treatment followed by Datura spp. mulching. Schima wallichii mulch recorded significantly higher number of leaves (22.40), rhizome length (9.00 cm), and No. of fingers/plant (41.00) as compared to all other organic mulching materials. Highest b:C ratio (4.88) was found in mulching with S. wallichii followed by Datura spp. mulching (3.0) in organic ginger production.