Research Paper. Key words : Turmeric, Fertigation, Nutrients, Water soluble fertilizers, Straight fertilizers

Transcription

1 The Asian Journal of Horticulture; Vol. 6 No. 1; (June, 2011) : Research Paper Received : February, 2011; Accepted : March, 2011 Impact of fertigation on leaf nutrient status in turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) cv. BSR 2 See end of the article for authors affiliations Correspondence to: C. KRISHNAMOORTHY Department of Spices and Plantation Crops, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, COIMBATORE (T.N.) INDIA ABSTRACT A field experiment to study the influence of fertigation of N and K on the leaf nutrient status of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) cv. BSR 2 was carried out during June 2007 to February 2008.The experiment was laid out with seven treatments replicated four times in a randomized block design. The leaf nutrient contents in general increased upto 210 days and then declined. The leaf N and K concentrations were higher with the fertigation treatments irrespective of the stages compared to fertilizer application in the soil. Among the fertigation treatments there were corresponding levels of leaf N, P and K concentrations for increase or decrease in levels of N and K employed. Fertigation using water soluble registered higher concentration of leaf NPK than straight. Krishnamoorthy, C., Soorianathasundaram, K., Rajamani, K. and Selvaraj, P.K. (2011). Impact of fertigation on leaf nutrient status in turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) cv. BSR 2, Asian J. Hort., 6 (1) : Key words : Turmeric, Fertigation, Nutrients, Water soluble, Straight Being a nutrient exhaustive crop, turmeric has been Increasing scarcity of water often encountered in many known to generally respond well to increased soil parts of turmeric growing regions necessitates alternative fertility levels (Subramanian et al., 2001; Rao and Rao, 1988). Owing to its long duration and high productivity, it requires heavy input of. Research works carried out on its nutritional requirements have resulted in location specific fertilizer recommendations in different states (Rethinam et al., 1994). In Tamil Nadu, a nutrient dosage of 150: 60: 108 kg NPK ha -1 has been generally recommended (TNAU, 2004). In almost all the turmeric growing regions, the nutritional requirements are met through application of in the soil. Split application of nutrients, especially nitrogen and potassium, has been recommended to improve the yield and qua lity means to provide adequate water to the crop without wastage. Drip irrigation has now emerged as one of the innovative approaches to precisely meet the water requirements of many crops. Of late, fertigation i.e. application of fertilizer through drip irrigation has been found to dramatically improve the yield and quality of many horticultural crops (Selvaraj et al., 1997; Salo et al., 2000). Except in a few research reports, published information on the influence of fertigation on turmeric is currently lacking. It has been reported that drip irrigation and fertigation can reduce the water requirement of turmeric by % (Selvaraj et al., 1997). While (Balashanmugam and Subrama nian, 1991; fertigation can be practiced using conventional Jagadeeswaran et al., 2004). Soil application of is associated with nutrient loss through leaching and evaporation. It may also lead to pollution of soil environment. Turmeric being a crop with high water requirement, assured water supply through out its growth period of 9 to 10 months is essential. Normally turmeric crop is irrigated at an interval of 5-7 days depending on soil and weather factors. such as urea and potash with reduced costs, use of water soluble may be effectively employed to improve quality and productivity. Enhancement of yield and quality of various crops has been reported by using water soluble in fertigation (Hebbar et al., 2004). The influence of water soluble on crop growth and yield of turmeric has not been so far investigated in detail. With this background in consideration, the present study

2 was taken up in turmeric cv. BSR 2 with the objective of studying the impact of fertigation in the leaf nutrient status of turmeric. Lateral 12 mm φ r Sub main 63 mm φ r 163 MATERIALS AND METHODS The field experiment to study the influence of fertigation of N and K on the leaf nutrient status of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) cv. BSR 2 was carried out during June 2007 to February The field experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station, Bhavanisagar, Erode district. The seed rhizomes obtained from primary fingers from the previous crop of the turmeric cultivar BSR 2 was used. Each treatmental plot measured 7.8 m length and 3 m width. Finger rhizomes of BSR 2 turmeric weighing about 25 grams were selected, treated with copperoxychloride 0.25 per cent for 20 minutes, shade dried and used for sowing on in paired row system. A spacing of 45 cm between rows within a paired row, 55 cm between two adjacent paired rows and 15 cm with in each row was maintained. Thus each plant occupied an area of m 2. In treatments receiving fertigation, drip laterals were laid along the length of each paired row at the centre with the spacing kept at 1 m between two adjacent laterals (Fig.1). In control plot, instead of drip laterals, provision for surface irrigation was provided for the paired rows. A venturi assembly was used for mixing fertilizer with irrigation water. Fertigation to individual plot in each replication was controlled by providing a manual regulating valve fixed to the lateral lines to ensure precise delivery of the required inputs thus enabling full control of experimental setup. The field experiment was laid out with seven treatments in four replications adopting randomized block design (RBD). The details of the treatments are as follows : T 1 - Recommended dose of NPK (150: 60: 108 kg ha -1 ) through straight i.e. Urea and MOP by soil application + surface irrigation (control), T 2 - N+K@ 100 % level by fertigation using straight.(urea and MOP), T 3 - N+K@ 75 % level by fertigation using straight.(urea and MOP), T 4 - N+K@ 50 % level by fertigation using straight.(urea and MOP), T 5 -N+K@ 100 % level by fertigation using water soluble.(urea and Multi K ), T 6 - N+K@ 75 % level by fertigation using water soluble.(urea and Multi K ) and T 7 - N+K@ 50 % level by fertigation using water soluble. (Urea and Multi K ) The were applied through drip irrigation at weekly intervals by following the schedule by which 50 % of total N and 30 % of total K were applied from 4 th to Emitter (4 lph) with 60 cm spacing Fig. 1 : 3 m width 1 m Lay out of individual plot 45 cm 7.8 m length 15 cm 11 th weeks, 40 % of total N and 50 % of total K were applied from 12 th to 23 rd weeks. The remaining quantity of 10 % N and 20 % K were applied from 24 th to 28 th weeks. Turmeric leaf samples were collected at 90 th, 150 th, 210 th and 240 th days and dried at 55 0 C for 6-8 hours in a hot air oven. The third youngest leaf was used as the standard leaf for nutrient estimation (Saifudeen, 1981).The nitrogen content in the leaf on dry weight basis was estimated by Micro Kjeldal method (Humphries, 1956) and expressed in per cent. The phosphorus contents in the dried leaf samples was estimated in a triple acid extract by adopting vanadomolybdate phosphoric yellow colour method (Jackson, 1973) and expressed in per cent. The potassium contents in the dried leaf samples were estimated by reading the flame photometer values of triple acid extract (Jackson, 1973) and expressed in per cent. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The results obtained from the present investigation are summarized below : Leaf nitrogen content: Leaf nitrogen contents ranged from 1.09 to 1.40 per

3 164 cent at 90 DAS, 1.14 to 1.50 per cent at 150 DAS, 1.08 to 1.44 per cent at 210 DAS and 1.01 to 1.32 per cent at 240 DAS among the different treatments (Table 1). The treatment T 5 registered significantly higher nitrogen contents in all the four stages which were at par with T 6. The treatment T 1 registered the least nitrogen contents in the four stages. T 4 which received 50 per cent of N and K through fertigation by using straight fertlizers also recorded lower N contents in the leaves. Leaf Phosphorus content Among the different stages, the highest leaf IMPACT OF FERTIGATION ON LEAF NUTRIENT STATUS IN TURMERIC phosphorus content was recorded at 150 DAS and was in the range of 0.23 to 0.36 per cent (Table 2). While T 5 and T 6 registered higher leaf phosphorus contents, the treatments T 4 and T 7 were at par in different stages. The leaf phosphorus contents increased upto 150 DAS irrespective of the treatments and then decreased. Leaf potassium content: The leaf potassium contents ranged from 3.02 (T 1 ) to 3.70 per cent (T 5 ) at 90 DAS (Table 3), increased to 3.40 (T 4 ) to 3.98 per cent (T 5 ) at 150 DAS, reduced to Table 1 : Influence of straight and water soluble on leaf nitrogen content (per (150:60:108 kg ha -1 ) through straight by soil application T % level by fertigation using straight T % level by fertigation using WSF T % level by fertigation using WSF T % level by fertigation using WSF S.E C.D. (P=0.05) CD (P=0.01) Table 2 : Influence of straight and water soluble on leaf phosphorus content (per (150:60:108 kg ha -1 ) through straight by soil application T % level by fertigation using straight T % level by fertigation using WSF T % level by fertigation using WSF T % level by fertigation using WSF S.E C.D. (P=0.05) C.D. (P=0.01)

4 165 Table 3 : Influence of straight and water soluble on leaf potassium content (per (150:60:108 kg ha -1 ) through straight by soil application T % level by fertigation using straight T % level by fertigation using WSF T % level by fertigation using WSF T % level by fertigation using WSF S.E C.D. (P=0.05) C.D. (P=0.01) (T 1 ) to 3.86 per cent (T 5 ) at 210 DAS and then further declined to 3.05 (T 1 ) to 3.56 per cent (T 5 ) at 240 DAS. The treatments T 1, T 4 and T 7 were at par with each other and T 7 recorded lower potassium content in leaves in all the four stages of observation. Plant analysis serves as an elegant tool for understanding the growth and physiology of plants at various phases of their growth (Hartz and Hochmuth, 1996). The leaf N and K concentrations were higher with the fertigation treatments irrespective of the stages compared to fertilizer application in the soil. Among the fertigation treatments there were corresponding levels of leaf N, P and K concentrations for increase or decrease in levels of N and K employed. Fertigation using water soluble registered higher concentration of leaf NPK than straight. It can be deduced from the data that fertigation with straight or water soluble especially at 75 % and 100 % levels improved leaf nutrient concentrations. These observations clearly demonstrate the enhanced uptake of major nutrients especially N and K when water soluble are used. Similar findings were reported by Papadopoulos (1987) in potato. Leaf NPK concentrations increased gradually from the initial stage to 90 DAS, attained peak levels at 150 DAS and declined later. The differences among the treatments for leaf N concentrations were significant at all the four stages of observation for nitrogen while for potash it was upto 150 DAS. Hence, it is necessary to apply both N and K especially during the early stages for maintaining optimal levels of leaf nutrient concentrations in turmeric. Application of appropriate to the growth stages and also the necessity for early stage application has been earlier stressed by Rao and Rao (1988). The necessity to ma intain leaf nutr ient concentrations at sufficient levels have been clearly indicated in the studies of Senthil Kumar et al., (2004). Authors affiliations: K. SOORIANATHASUNDARAM, K. RAJAMANI AND P.K. SELVARAJ, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, COIMBATORE (T.N.) INDIA REFERENCES Balashanmugam, P.V. and Subramanian, K.S. (1991). Effect of split application of potassium on turmeric. South Indian J. Hort., 39(3): Hartz, T.K. and Hochmuth, G.J. (1996). Fertility management of drip irrigated vegetables. Hort. Tech., 6(3): Hebbar, S.S., Ramachandrappa, B.K., Nanjappa, H.V. and Prabhakar, M. (2004). Studies on NPK drip fertigation in field grown tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). Europ. J. Agron., 21: Humphries, K.C. (1956). Mineral components and analysis. In: Modern methods of plant analysis (Eds: Paech, K. and M.O. Tracy). Springer Verlag, Berlin, pp Jackson, M.L. (1973). Soil chemical analysis. Prentice Hall of India Private Ltd., New Delhi. 2 nd Ed. Indian Reprint.

5 166 IMPACT OF FERTIGATION ON LEAF NUTRIENT STATUS IN TURMERIC Jagadeeswaran, R., Arulmozhiselvan, K., Govindaswamy, M. and Murugappan, V. (2004). Studies on nitrogen use efficiency in turmeric using 15 N tagged urea. J. Nuclear Agric. Biol., 33(2): Papadopoulos, I. (1987). Nitrogen fertigation of greenhouse grown tomato Commun. Soil. Sci. Plant Anal., 18(8): Rao, M.R. and Rao, D.V.R. (1988). Studies on crop improvement of turmeric. Proc. Natl. Seminar on chillies, ginger and turmeric, Hyderabad, Jan , 1988, pp , India. Rethinam, P., Edison, S., Sadanandan, A.K. and Johny, A.K. (1994). Major achievements of AICRP on spices. Indian Cocoa Arecanut & Spices J., 18: Saifudeen, N. (1981). Foliar diagnosis, yield and quality of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) in relation to nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. M.Sc. (Ag.) Thesis, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, Kerala (India). Salo, T., Seojala, T. and Kallelam (2000). The effect of fertigation on yield and nutrient uptake of cabbage, carrot and onions. Acta Hort., 571: Selvaraj, P.K., Krishnamurthi, V.V., Manickasundaram, P., James Martin, G. and Ayyaswamy, M. (1997). Effect of irrigation schedules and nitrogen levels on the yield of turmeric through drip irrigation. Madras Agric. J., 84: Senthil Kumar, P.S., Aruna Geetha, S., Savithri, P., Jagadeeswaran, R. and Ragunath, K.P. (2004). Effect of Zn enriched organic manures and zinc solubilizer application on the yield, curcumin content and nutrient status of soil under turmeric cultivation. J. Applied Hort., 6(2): Subramanian, K.S., Sivasamy, N. and Thangaraj, T. (2001). Integrated nutrient management for turmeric. Spice India, 14 (12): ***********