Influence of fertilizer management to turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) cv. Salem under Konkan condition

A field experiment was carried out at Agriculture Research Station, Awashi, Tal.Khed, Dist.Ratnagiri under Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli during the year 2012 to 2015 in in randomized block design with five treatments with four replications comprising different levels of N fertilizer (150,200,250,300,350 kg ha-1) in two splits i.e 45 days and 90 days of planting, respectively. Application of 200 kg N ha-1 showed marked improvement in growth and yield attributes without affecting the quality parameter i.e curcumin content of turmeric. Thus, increasing dose of N upto 200 kg N ha-1(T2) resulted significantly better with respect to improvement in plant height (110.93 cm), number of leaves plant-1, leaf area(cm), fresh rhizome yield (40.95 plot ha-1), fresh rhizome yield (22.93 t ha-1), fresh mother rhizome yield (7.08 t ha-1) and finger yield (15.80 t ha-1) over control whereas it was at par with number of tiller per plant (2.81), number of leaves plant-1(18.93) and leaf area(4962.4 cm).The net returns at optimum dose of N (200 kg N ha-1) were Rs.91533200 ha-1with benefit cost ratio 2.52. However, there were no variable changes found in soil PH, EC (dSm-1) and organic carbon content (%).It can be concluded from the experiment that optimum dose of N fertilizer is necessary for sustaining soil fertility and productivity of turmeric.