Influence of mulching and irrigation scheduling on productivity and water use of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) in north-western India

• Published in: Irrigation science Vol. 34; no. 4; pp. 261 - 269
• Main Authors: Kaur, Amandeep, A. S. Brar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-07-2016; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: agricultural colleges; Agriculture; Aquatic Pollution; Basin irrigation; Basins; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Climate Change; Crops; Curcuma longa; Drip irrigation; Environment; Evaporation; field experimentation; Irrigation; Irrigation scheduling; Irrigation water; Life Sciences; Mathematical analysis; microirrigation; mulching; Original Paper; Pan evaporation; Productivity; Schedules; Scheduling; Straw; straw mulches; Sustainable Development; turmeric; Waste Water Technology; Water Industry/Water Technologies; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Water resources management; Water use; India; India, Punjab; India, Punjab, Ludhiana; Irrigation Schedule; Curcuma Longa; Curcumin; Irrigation Water; Drip Irrigation
• ISSN: 0342-7188; 1432-1319
• DOI: 10.1007/s00271-016-0501-0

A field experiment was conducted to compute the water use and productivity of turmeric as a function of straw mulching and irrigation scheduling at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, during 2013 and 2014. The experiment was laid out in split plot design, keeping mulch levels (no mulch and straw mulch 6 t/ha) and irrigation methods (drip and check basin) in main plots and irrigation schedules at 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 and 1.2 irrigation water/cumulative pan evaporation (IW/CPE) in subplots. Turmeric yield was 125.2 % higher with mulching than no mulch with 50 % saving in irrigation water. Drip irrigation resulted in significantly higher turmeric yield and benefit/cost (B/C) than check basin. Irrigation scheduling at 1.2 IW/CPE recorded significantly higher turmeric yield than other schedules. Drip irrigation at 0.8 IW/CPE resulted in statistically at par yield with check basin irrigation at 1.2 IW/CPE, thus saving 40 % irrigation water with significantly higher B/C. However, turmeric yield was at par between drip irrigation at 1.2 and 1.0 IW/CPE schedule, while a significant reduction in yield was recorded in check basin at 1.0 IW/CPE compared to 1.2 IW/CPE. Turmeric should be irrigated with drip at 1.0 and with check basin at 1.2 IW/CPE to realize potential yield.