Effect of bio-fertilisers and bio-stimulants on growth, yield and quality of Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) var. IISR-Pragati under gangetic alluvial zone of West Bengal

Introduction

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.; Family: Zingiberaceae), commonly known as "Haldi" (in Bengali and Hindi) is an ancient most valuable and sacred spice of India and also known as "Indian Saffron" or "Golden Spice". Commonly it is known as the "golden spice" because of the golden yellow colour due to presence of curcumin, a primary bioactive compound. Turmeric is mainly regarded as triploid (2n = 63). It is a dried underground rhizome giving rise to primary and secondary rhizomes called fingers. Turmeric accounts for approximately 6% of the total area under spices and condiments cultivation in India and plays a significant role in the Indian economy (Choudhary and Rahi, 2018) [5] . India is the world's leading producer and exporter of turmeric, contributing over 50% of global trade and meeting nearly 90% of worldwide demand (APEDA, 2018; Olojede et al., 2009) [16] . Bio-fertilizers generally improve the fertility status of soil, provide better crop yield and uptake of plant nutrients. The application of bio-fertilizers in combination with the inorganic fertilizer substitutes the required quantity of the fertilizers. Azotobacter belongs to the family Azotobacteraceae. The first species of the genus Azotobacter, named Azotobacter chroococcum, was isolated from the soil in Holland in 1901 by Beijerinck. Phosphorus-Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB) serve as biofertilizers that can convert insoluble inorganic phosphorus into forms accessible to plants. Phosphorus is an essential macronutrient for plant growth and is typically supplied to soils through phosphorus fertilizers, although its natural concentration in soil is only around 0.05%. KMB biofertilizer, also called potassium-mobilizing bacteria, is a liquid biofertilizer that enhances soil fertility and boosts crop yield. Plant bio-stimulants is the substances and/or different organic treatments laid out in RBD. The treatments were T 1: recommended dose of fertilizer, T 2: In-situ incorporation of Dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata), T 3: FYM @ 10t ha -1 , T 4: Enriched compost ≈ FYM @ 10 t ha -1 in the furrow at planting, T 5: Vermicompost ≈ FYM @ 10t ha -1 + Microbial consortia as slurry for treatment of rhizome at planting, T 6: Microbial consortia as slurry for treatment of rhizome with vermiwash (1:7) + Vermiwash spray (1:7) every month upto seven months of planting, T 7: FYM@ 10 t ha -1 + Microbial consortia as slurry for treatment of rhizome at planting. The experimental results revealed that maximum plant height (167.23 cm), number of leaves per plant (23.46) number of tillers per plant (3.90), leaf area of a single leaf (648.33 cm 2 ), leaf area per plant (15209.82 cm 2 ), leaf area index (12.42) were observed in T 1 , they were followed by treatment T 7 and T 4 and the minimum was recorded in T 6 . Among the treatments T 7 exhibited best performance in terms of curing percentage (18.09 %) and curcumin content (3.62 %).

Effect of bio stimulants on growth, yield and quality of turmeric rhizomes

Sathiyanarayanan and Sathiyabama (2016) [19] conducted field experiments in Erode, Tamil Nadu to investigate the effect of foliar application of chitosan (a growth promoter) on growth, yield attributes and curcumin content of turmeric (Erode local). The chitosan (0.1%, w/v) was sprayed at a regular interval of 30 days up to 210 days. Results revealed that the growth parameters (shoot height, leaf number/plant, and plant fresh weight) were increased with application of chitosan. Chitosan treatment to turmeric plants results in high yield and curcumin content. Manoj (2017) [12] carried out a study at the College of Horticulture, Venkataramannagudem, West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, during 2016-17. The experiment involved five elicitors-methyl jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, ethephon, chitosan, potassium silicate, and potassium phosphate-applied at different concentrations. These elicitors were sprayed three times, at 120, 150, and 180 days after planting (DAP). The results showed that salicylic acid at 100 ppm produced the highest plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf length, leaf width, and biomass, followed closely by chitosan at 100 ppm. The maximum curcumin content, however, was recorded with chitosan at 100 ppm. An experiment was carried out by Thengumpally (2019) [22] at College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2017-2019, to study the effect of chitosan on plant growth, yield and development of Curcuma aromatic. The experiment was laid out in CRD with nine treatments and three replications. The treatments consisted of foliar spray of chitosan (0.5 g, 1.0 g, 1.5 g, 2 g, 2.5 g and 3.0 g l -1 ), acetic acid (0.25 %), water spray and control. The plant growth parameters viz., plant height, number of tillers, number of leaves, leaf area, rhizome thickness, number of fingers, root length etc. Were recorded at 4 and 6 Month after Planting (MAP) and at harvest. The observations on plant metabolites viz., chlorophyll content, total proteins were recorded at 4 and 6 MAP. The chitosan concentration of 2.5 g l -1 gave minimum enhancement in growth, yield and quality parameters followed by chitosan (3 g l -1 ). In their experiment, Chitra et al. (2020) [3] used different organic substances viz., humic acid, panchagavya, vermiwash and neem cake extracts. The study envisaged that spraying of 3% Panchakavya resulted in higher plant height, number of leaves, number of tillers, leaf length and leaf breadth. The estimated fresh rhizome yield of 21.83 t ha -1 was recorded from the treatment of 3% Panchagavya and was significantly differed from other treatments. [23] and Uniform quantity of FYM @ 10t /ha was applied in all the treatments.] [14] ; Marchner, 1983 [13] ; Rao and Swami, 1984 [17] also reported the favourable effect of N, P, and K in promoting the growth of turmeric plants. The pooled data at 90days after planting, among eighteen treatments was varies from 64.07 to 98.95 cm. At 120 days after planting (DAP), among eighteen treatments the maximum plant height was recorded in treatment S2 where it was given 127.63 cm followed by S6 was 125.38 cm and S 3 was 123.92 cm. As per pooled data of plant height was increasing trend from 94.63.68 to 128.46. Among all treatments, the minimum plant height was observed in S18 (93.1 cm) followed by S 17 was 102.06 cm and S16 was 104.05 cm. The findings of the present experiment are in conformity with the results of Hrideek et al. (2006) [8] . The pooled data at 120 days after planting, among eighteen treatments was varies from 94. [8] . In an experiment Deshmukh et al. (2005) [7] also reported that maximum leaf length was found in waigon and it was 61.05 cm. The findings of the present experiment are in conformity with the results of Singh et al. (2013) [21] . The pooled data at 150 days after planting, among eighteen treatments was varies from 116.69 to 156.24 cm.

Materials and Methods

Experiment details

Bio

Yield parameter

Yield parameters are quantitative measures of plant growth and development that influence the amount of harvestable material produced per unit area. Different yield parameters were recorded at harvest, showed variations with different treatment combination.

Persual of the data from [9] .

The increasing trend for breadth of clump for treatment S

Biochemical and quality parameters (post-harvest stage)

Biochemical and quality parameters refer to characteristics that determine the suitability or desirability of the product.

Among most of the treatment wise from [4,11] .

Conclusion

On the basis of the data pooled over 2 years i.e., 2021-22 and 2022-23 results showed that after 90 days of planting, the maximum plant height (98.95 cm) was recorded in the treatment S2. The same trend was also observed at 120 and150 days after planting with the highest data of 128.47cm and156.24 cm respectively. The maximum number of leaves per clump (25.89) and highest number of tillers per clump (4.80) were also recorded in S2 at 150 days after planting. The maximum length of clump (18.55 cm), breadth of clump (16.45 cm) and weight of clump (428.95 g) were recorded in the same treatment i.e., S2. Among all treatments, the pooled, data showed that projected rhizome yield per hectare were found the highest (30.96 ton) in the treatment S2. (2022-23).Similarly, among all treatments maximum length of secondary finger was found in the treatment S 2 was 5.36 cm (2021-22) and 4.95cm (2022-23).The minimum length of secondary finger was found in the treatment S 12 i.e., 3.27 (2021-22) and 3.65 (2022-23).The highest breadth of secondary finger was recorded in treatment S 2 with a value of 1.85 cm (2021-22) and 1.67 cm (2022-23).The lowest breadth of secondary finger was recorded for the treatment S 17 with a value of 1.42 (2021-22) and 1.38 (2022-23). Among all treatments year wise data showed the highest rhizome yield per plot in the treatment S 2 with a value of 13.38kg (2021-22) and 11.39kg (2022-23). The lowest yield of 11.03kg (2021-22) and 9.1kg (2022-23) was recorded in S 17 . Similarly, among all treatments highest projected rhizome yield per hectare of 33.45ton (2021-22) and 28.48ton (2022-23) was recorded for treatment S2. The minimum projected rhizome yield per hectare was recorded in treatment S18with a value of 25.63 (2021-22) and 24. 13 (2022-23).Regarding quality parameters, the maximum curcumin content (6.16%) was found in the treatment S2, whereas oleoresin content in the rhizome was recorded highest (14.33%) in the treatment S6.On the basis of growth and yield attributing characters, the cultivar IISR-Pragati was found most promising with the combination treatment of S 2 in the Gangetic plains of West Bengal.

References

1. 5: Effect of bio-fertilizers and bio-stimulants on yield of turmeric var. IISR-pragati Treatments 2021-22 2022-23 Pooled 2021-22 2022-23 Pooled Rhizome yield per plot (kg/3m 2 ) Projected rhizome yield per hectare (t ha -1 )
2. N. B.: S1 -100% RDF, S2 -75% RDF + Azotobacter + PSB + KMB+ Humic acid, S3 -75% RDF + Azotobacter + Humic acid, S4 -75% RDF + PSB+ Humic acid, S5 -75% RDF + KMB + Humic acid, S6 -75% RDF + Azotobacter + PSB + KMB + Chitosan, S7 -75% RDF + Azotobacter + Chitosan, S8-75% RDF + PSB + Chitosan, S9 -75% RDF + KMB + Chitosan, S10 -50% RDF + Azotobacter + PSB + KMB + Humic acid, S11 -50% RDF + Azotobacter + Humic acid, S12 -50% RDF + PSB + Humic acid, S13 -50% RDF + KMB + Humic acid, S14 -50% RDF + Azotobacter + PSB + KMB + Chitosan, S15 -50% RDF + Azotobacter + Chitosan, S16 -50% RDF + PSB + Chitosan, S17 -50% RDF + KMB + Chitosan and S18 -Absolute control (without any RDF, Bio-fertilizers and Bio-stimulants)] Table 6: Effect of bio-fertilizers and bio-stimulants on quality parameters (dry recovery % and curcumin %) of turmeric var. IISR-pragati Treatments 2021-22 2022-23 Pooled 2021-22 2022-23
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