Organic Turmeric Production

Field trial on the effect of seed rhizome size, microbial bio- inoculant (VAM) and bioformulations on growth, yield and quality of turmeric cv. Salem was carried out during 2012-13 at K.R.C.C.H, Arabhavi, Karnataka. Trial on seed rhizome size was laid out as RBD with seven treatments, replicated thrice. Among seven seed rhizome sizes, highest cured yield (10.41 t/ha), processing percentage (30.93), curcumin content (4.83%) and volatile oil content (1.34%) was obtained by planting of whole mother rhizome of 25 g size followed by cut mother rhizome of 25 g size. A separate field trial on the effect of microbial bio- inoculant (VAM) and bioformulations was laid out in split plot design with two main (With or without VAM) and nine sub treatments (Bio-formulations), replicated thrice. Inoculation of VAM resulted in higher cured yield (9.25 t/ha) than the uninoculated control (6.00 t/ha). Processing percentage (30.45),curcumin content (4.42%) and volatile oil content (1.17%) were higher in turmeric crop inoculated with VAM. The highest benefit cost ratio was also recorded by T9M1(4.81)followed by T8M1(4.07)compared to the lowest recorded by T1M2(1.64).