Title : Influence of photos selective nets and metabolic elicitors on growth, yield and quality of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.)
Abstract:
An investigation entitled “Influence of photo-selective nets and metabolic elicitors on growth, yield and quality of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.)” was carried out at Tayur village, Nanjangud Taluk, Mysuru district, Karnataka on a farmer’s field during kharif 2018-19 and 2019-20. The laboratory work was carried out at the College of Horticulture, University of Horticultural Sciences campus, Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra, Bengaluru and also at the College of Horticulture, University of Horticultural Sciences campus, Yelwal, Mysuru. The experiment comprised of twenty treatment combinations consisting of photo-selective nets and metabolic elicitors and was laid out in a split plot design with three replications.
Turmeric crop grown under various photo-selective nets sprayed with different elicitors manifested significant differences in growth, yield and quality during both the years of experimentation. The data on the performance with respect to various parameters recorded at harvest pooled over two growing seasons clearly revealed that, turmeric plants under red photo-selective net with chitosan at 1000 ppm manifested highest plant height and number of leaves per plant (111.48 cm and 25.01 respectively). While, plants grown under blue photo-selective net without any elicitors outperformed as compared to other treatment combinations in respect of number of tillers per plant(6.58). Yellow net with salicylic acid at 100 ppm recorded highest leaf area (6376.39 cm2). The blue net with 1000 ppm chitosan resulted in maximum chlorophyll content (SPAD value 39.13).Open field grown plants treated with chitosan 1000 ppm had highest total phenols (658.60 mg GAE 100-1 g).
The yellow photo-selective net had a most positive impact on the major yield determinant, the number of primary rhizomes per plant (16.68), while the metabolic elicitors had no influence. Supremacy of yellow net was very evident in respect of weight of mother (162.12 g), primary (512.78 g) and secondary (398.73 g) rhizomes per plant, which are considered as the important yield components. Statistical parity in respect of yield was observed due to various nets. However, the yellow net was superior in terms of fresh (58.27 t ha-1) and cured rhizome yield (15.53 t ha-1) and none of the elicitors tried had any significant influence on yield.
The dry recovery, a key parameter, which finally decides the economic output in the form of cured rhizomes, was highest in plants grown under yellow net and sprayed with active dry yeast at 5000 ppm (27.78 %). Curcumin content, the major quality determinant was highest in rhizomes of plants grown under blue net (5.09 %) sprayed with chitosan at 1000 ppm.
Plants grown under yellow net and sprayed with active dry yeast at 5000 ppm gave the highest net returns (Rs. 7, 54,830 and 12,45,915 per hectare during 2018-19 and 2019-20 respectively). Under open field conditions, salicylic acid sprayed at 100 ppm resulted in the highest gross and net returns. Provision of yellow photo-selective net (25 % shade) along with 5000 ppm active dry yeast applied at monthly interval starting from one month after planting up to five months after planting could be recommended for obtaining highest yield and better quality turmeric with highest net returns. Farmers growing turmeric crop under open field condition may spray salicylic acid at 100 ppm to realize higher yield and net returns.
Audience Take Away Notes
- It’s novel research related to turmeric Curcuma longa L., which will be helpful for producers, processors, and pharmaceutical industries as it gives definite results on how the secondary metabolite curcumin can be increased.
- Will offer clues and ideas to researchers to try or improvise from here on. The results obtained offer practical solutions for enhancing productivity and quality greatly.
- The economic benefits were manifold which was clearly evident in this study
