Vol. 9, Issue 2, Part I (2025)

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), an herb native to South East Asia, is a significant spice crop of India belonging to the Zingiberaceae family. It serves as a condiment and coloring agent in various industries, including food, textiles, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, particularly for anti-cancer medications. Intensive cultivation necessitates the use of chemical fertilizers alongside organic manures and bio-fertilizers to enhance food safety and sustainability. This study evaluated the impact of integrated nutrient management on turmeric's growth, yield, and quality in northern dry zone Karnataka during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 periods at Dhanvantari Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Garden, Department of Plantation, Spices, Medicinal and Aromatic Crops, College of Horticulture, Bagalkot. The pooled data findings indicated that treatment T₁₀ demonstrated superior growth and yield attributes. Specifically, T₁₀ (100% RDF + Consortium (10 kg/ha) + Micronutrient special + Vermicompost) surpassed other treatments in fresh (22.19 t) and dry (7.52 t/ha) rhizome yields, rhizome curing percentage (34.90%), volatile oil content (2.88%), curcumin content (3.94%) and oleoresin content (6.63%), yielding gross returns of Rs. 2,66,280/ha. This suggests that integrating biofertilizers with organic manures reduces the need for recommended fertilizer doses. The second most effective treatment, T₁₁ (75% RDF + Consortium (10 kg/ha) + Micronutrient special + Vermicompost), achieved the highest net returns of Rs. 1,23,916.0/ha, while T₁₂ (50% RDF + Consortium (10 kg/ha) + Micronutrient special + Vermicompost) exhibited the best benefit-cost ratio (2.03) for commercial turmeric cultivation.