Journal of Applied Horticulture. 2002: 4(1): 25-26

Effects of light intensity and vermicompost on the yield of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc)

Vastrad, N V; Sulikeri, G S; Hegde, R V

Division of Horticulture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad - 580 005, India.

The yield and yield components of ginger cv. Bidar local under normal (open) and reduced (shaded) light conditions, and 5 fertilizer treatments (recommended fertilizer rate (RFR) of 100:50:50 kg NPK/ha; 75% RFR + 25% vermicompost; 50% RFR + 50% vermicompost; 25% RFR + 75% vermicompost; and 100% vermicompost at 8 t/ha) were studied in Dharwad, Karnataka, India during 1998/99. Reduced light condition (by 40-50%) was obtained by growing dwarf castor bean cv. Aruna as an intercrop at a spacing of 90x30 cm. The average fresh rhizome yield (11.54 t/ha) and cured rhizome yield (3.64 t/ha) were higher under normal light conditions than under reduced light conditions (6.40 and 1.58 t/ha, respectively). Among the fertilizer treatments, 100% RFR recorded the highest average fresh rhizome yield (10.21 t/ha). The application of 75% RFR + 25% vermicompost resulted in an average fresh rhizome yield (9.16 t/ha) which was almost as high. The effect of the interaction between light intensity and vermicompost on fresh rhizome yield was significant. The highest fresh rhizome yield was obtained with the combination between normal light and 100% RFR (12.64 t/ha) or vermicompost (12.03 t/ha). Curing percentage was highest with 100% RFR (16.73%) and 75% RFR + 25% vermicompost (16.61%). Among the fertilizer treatments, 100% vermicompost recorded the highest cured rhizome yield (3.12 t/ha).