Evaluation of Turmeric (Curcuma longa L) Genotypes for Growth and Yield Attributes in Plains of Eastern Nepal

Abstract

An experiment was conducted in order to identify the productive genotype of turmeric for the plains of Nepal. In 2017 and 2018, seven promising turmeric genotypes (CI 0207, CI 0205, CI 9102, CI 1312, CI 0503, CI 0507, and CI 0201) were compared with KKH-1 in a Randomized Complete Block Design with four replications at the Directorate of Agricultural Research, Tarahara, Nepal. The plants were 30 cm x 30 cm apart, with 40 plants per 3.6 m2 plot area. Cultural practices were followed in accordance with the recommendations. Analysis of variance, correlation, cluster, and GGEbiplot analysis were performed on the observed data. From the pooled analysis of two years of data, the results showed significant differences in plant height and fresh rhizome yield among genotypes. The rhizome yield of KKH-1 was found significantly higher (19.36 t ha-1) than CI 0205 and CI 9102 and at par with other genotypes. Weight of mother rhizome had significant positive correlation (r = 0.602**) with yield of fresh rhizome. Though KKH-1 yielded the highest fresh rhizome, the cluster and GGEbiplot analysis identified CI0207 as one of the potential turmeric clones next to KKH-1.