Abstract

A field experiment to study the soil, plant nutrient status and yield of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) cv. BSR 2 as influenced by fertigation of N and K fertilizers was carried out during June 2007 to February 2008. The experiment consisted of seven treatments replicated four times in a randomized block design. The soil nutrient parameters viz., available soil nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium content and plant nutrient parameters viz., leaf nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium were recorded. The yield parameters viz., number of mother, primary and secondary rhizomes, length and girth of mother, primary and secondary rhizomes, weight of mother, primary and secondary rhizomes, fresh, cured rhizome yield plant -1 and estimated cured rhizome yield hectare -1 were also recorded. The study revealed that the soil and plant nutrient contents in general increased upto 150 days and then declined. Among the several treatments, N + K @ 100 % level (150 : 108 NK kg ha -1 ) by fertigation using water soluble fertilizers viz., Urea and Multi ‘K’ registered the highest values for the soil, plant nutrient content and yield parameters.

Keywords: Fertigation, soil, leaf nutrients, yield, water soluble fertilizers, straight fertilizers.