Growth and Yield Response of Ginger Plants (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) to Drip Fertigation Levels and Schedules

Abstract

A two year field experiment was conducted at College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala during February, 2022 to October, 2023 to assess the effects of different fertigation levels and scheduling intervals on the growth and yield responses of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.). The study included five fertigation levels [F1:50, F2:75, F3: 100, F4:150, F5: 200 percent of the recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) of KAU, 2016] as the main plot treatments, three fertigation intervals (S1: 3 days, S2: 7 days, and S3: 15 days) as sub plot treatments with two control treatments. Results revealed that the fertigation levels, schedules, and their interactions had no significant influence on the number of days to sprouting and sprouting percentage. The treatment combination F4S1 recorded the highest plant height, number of tillers, and root dry weight at 180 days after planting (DAP). The leaf length and leaf area were also found to be significantly highest in F4S1 at 120 and 180 DAP. Fertigation with 150% RDF at three days intervals resulted in 46 percent more yield gain as compared to the conventional method (control 2). The study underscores the importance of optimized fertigation strategies in enhancing nutrient use efficiency, growth, and productivity in ginger cultivation.