Outcome of Mulching and Phosphatic fertilizer on Germination and Yield of Turmeric

The present study was conducted at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kapurthala during the year 2016–17 in order to evaluate the effect of mulching and phosphatic fertilizer on germination and yield of Turmeric. Five different treatments consisted: T1-Control (No inorganic fertilizer or mulch), T2–100 per cent recommended dose of fertilizer (DAP 55kg/ha and MOP 40 kg/ha) + No mulch, T3–25 per cent more DAP (68 kg/ha) + recommended dose of MOP (40 kg/ha) + No mulch, T4-T2 + mulch @ 6t/ha and T5-T3 + mulch @ 6t/ha. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RBD) consists of 3 replications. The study revealed that maximum germination was recorded in treatment T5 followed by T4. There was no significant difference between T5, T4 and T3 regarding rhizome count per plot, on the other hand, T2 was at par with T1. Maximum turmeric yield was obtained under T5 followed by T4, T3, T2 and T1. Hence, it can be said that in order to maximize the rhizome yield of turmeric, farmers must apply 25 per cent more quantity of phosphatic fertilizer than the recommendation along with use of mulching material @ 6 t/ha.