Performance of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) Varieties under Organic Nutrition.

Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kollam selected four ginger varieties Athira, Karthika, Aswathy and Varada for the trial. Number of replications were ten. Organic ginger production package developed by Kerala Agricultural University was followed for its cultivation. The trial revealed that ginger variety Varada recorded highest yield (18.5 t/ha) followed by Aswathy (16.7 t/ha), while local variety recorded lowest yield (10.0 t/ha). Highest B: C ratio (2.63) was obtained from Varada followed by Aswathy (2.38) and Athira (2.32). Highest disease incidence (25.0%) was reported from local variety followed by Karthika (8.0%) and lowest from Varada (5.2%). Pest incidence (15.4) was highest in local variety and lowest (4.3%) in variety Varada. The rhizomes of ginger variety Varada and Athira were bold while that of variety Aswathy and Karthika medium bold. Varieties Varada, Athira and Karthika can be used for fresh and dry ginger purpose while variety Aswathy for fresh ginger purpose. It was concluded that ginger performed well under organic farming and helped in maintaining soil sustainability in long run. Ginger variety Varada reported highest yield and benefit cost ratio and less pest and disease incidence than other ginger varieties in Kollam district of Kerala under organic management practices.