Effect of method of planting and harvesting time on yield attributes and yield of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) varieties

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during 2021-2022 (May-January) to study the performance of turmeric varieties as influenced by planting methods and time of harvesting at the Bhadiarkhar Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, CSK HPKV, Palampur. The experiment was laid out in split-plot design comprising of two genotypes (Palam Lalima and Palam Pitamber) and two planting methods (Flat and Ridge) in main-plots and time of harvesting (210, 225, 240 and 255 days after planting) in sub-plots. The soil of the experimental field was acidic in reaction, low in available nitrogen, and high in available phosphorus and medium in available potassium. Variety Palam Pitamber was significantly superior over variety Palam Lalima in respect of fresh weight of mother, primary and secondary rhizomes, fresh (176.70 q/ha) and dry rhizome yield (36.59 q/ha). Planting methods could not influence the yield attributes and yield. Harvesting at 255 days after planting produced maximum fresh rhizome yield (180.7 q/ha) of turmeric which was statistically at par with 240 days after planting but was significantly better than the earlier harvesting dates. Similar trend was also observed for dry rhizome yield.