Vol. 11, Issue 7 (2022)

Author(s):
Tridisha Deka and Sanjay Swami

Abstract:
Organic farming is the system of farming which largely excludes the use of synthetic chemical fertilizers, and primarily focus on developing the farm as a system which makes use of its own resources as far as possible and draws on external resources only when necessary and appropriate. Black turmeric is a perennial herb with bluish black rhizomes. It is native to North-eastern part of India. In Meghalaya, black turmeric is cultivated without adding any nutrient sources or sometimes with household waste and farm yard manure (FYM) resulting in low yield with poor quality produce. Therefore, the present investigation was carried out at School of Natural Resource Management, College of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences, Umiam, Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya to develop an organic nutrient management package for getting higher production wherein farm yard manure (FYM), vermicompost (VC) and poultry manure (PM) alone and in different combinations were tested through eight treatments viz., T₁: FYM @ 20 t/ha,T₂: VC @ 10 t/ha, T₃: PM @ 5 t/ha, T₄: FYM @ 10 t/ha + VC @ 5 t/ha, T₅: FYM @ 10 t/ha + PM @ 2.5 t/ha, T₆: VC @ 5 t/ha + PM @ 2.5 t/ha, T₇: FYM @ 10 t/ha + VC @ 5 t/ha + PM @ 2.5 t/ha and T₈: Control. These treatments were replicated thrice in randomized block design. The soil reaction of the experimental plot was acidic. The results revealed that highest plant height, and rhizome yield was obtained in T₇ i.e., combination of FYM, VC and PM @ 10 t/ha, 5 t/ha and 2.5 t/ha, respectively. Therefore, farmers of Meghalaya may be advised to apply FYM @ 10 t/ha + VC @ 5 t/ha + PM @ 2.5 t/ha for getting higher yield of black turmeric in acidic soils.