Efficacy of Integrated Nutrient Management on Rhizome Productivity in Mango Ginger (Curcuma amada Roxb.)

An experiment on the effect of integrated nutrient management on the rhizome productivity of mango ginger (Curcuma amada Roxb.) was conducted at a farmer’s field in Vadapalani village, Erode district during 2022-2023. The research investigated how integrated nutrient management (INM) influences the growth performance of rhizomes in mango ginger (Curcuma amada Roxb.). Atotal of 11 treatments used in this experiments were as T₁ - 75% RDF + Vermicompost @ 5 t/ha + Panchagavya @ 3%, T₂ - 75% RDF + Groundnut cake @ (200 kg/ha) + Panchagavya @ 3%,T₃ - 75% RDF + Vermicompost @ 5 t/ha + Vermiwash @ 10%, T₄ - 75% RDF + Groundnut cake @ (200 kg/ha) + Vermiwash @10%, T₅ - 75% RDF + Vermicompost @ 5 t/ha + Humic acid @ 0.2%, T₆ - 75% RDF + Groundnut cake @ (200 kg/ha) + Humic acid @ 0.2%, T₇ - 75% RDF + Vermicompost @ 5 t/ha + Amrit Pani @ 3 %,T₈ - 75% RDF + Groundnut cake @ (200 kg/ha) + Amrit Pani @ 3 %, T₉ - 75% RDF + Vermicompost @ 5 t/ha + Chitosan @ 0.1 %, T₁₀ - 75% RDF + Groundnut cake @ (200 kg/ha) + Chitosan @ 0.1 % and T₁₁ - Control. The results demonstrated significant improvements across various growth parameters in treatments integrating organic and inorganic nutrient sources. Treatment T₉, comprising 75% RDF, Vermicompost @ 5 t ha^-1 and chitosan @ 0.1%, emerged as the most effective. It achieved the shortest sprouting duration (12.09 d), tallest plant height (124.39 cm), maximum tiller count (6.23 tillers/plant), the highest leaf count (21.85 leaves/plant), longest leaf length (73.27 cm) and the greatest leaf breadth (32.72 cm) and maximum pseudostem girth (11.26 cm). Additionally, T₉ recorded the highest curcumin content (2.48%). These outcomes highlighted the synergistic benefits of combining organic and inorganic nutrient sources in promoting superior plant growth and rhizome quality.