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Assessing changes in soil quality indicators, turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) yield, and monetary returns under different years of organic nutrient management

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Abstract

Turmeric is a significant and widely grown spice crop in the western agro-climatic zone of Tamil Nadu, India. In recent decades, it is cultivated organically with different sources of nutrients. Unraveling the influence of different nutrient management regimes under long-term practice of organic farming on soil quality indicators and turmeric yield may help to develop a sustainable organic nutrient management practice for ensuring better yield and soil health besides doubling the farmer’s income. The study was conducted in the seven farmer’s fields involving organic nutrient management (ORG) practices with different years (4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, and 28 years) of practice in the western agro-climatic zone of Tamil Nadu, India. The analyzed chemical properties, viz., soil reaction, electrical conductivity, and nutrients (both macro and micro), and biological indicators, viz., soil organic carbon (SOC), organic matter, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), MBC/SOC ratio, culturable microbes, earthworm activity, dehydrogenase, and phosphatase activities, from the collected soil samples were found to be biologically and chemically more active in 28 years of organically managed soils than others. Turmeric rhizome yield was enhanced by about 48% and profitability by 62% in terms of net return in the same 28 years ORG field compared to recently converted ORG field (4 years). Established Pearson’s correlation highlighted interrelationships between soil properties and rhizome yield as well as years of organic farming. The findings clearly indicate that the long-term practice of organic nutrient management aids in enhancing the soil quality, attaining maximum turmeric yield, and doubling the farmer’s income in the Western zone of Tamil Nadu.

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Acknowledgement

The authors are much indebted to the turmeric farmers of Erode district of Tamil Nadu for allowing us to take necessary samples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre of Excellence in Sustaining Soil Health, AnbilDharmalingam Agricultural College & Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Trichy, 620 027, Tamil Nadu, India

    Dhandayuthapani Udhaya Nandhini & Sadasivam Meena

  2. Nammazhvar Organic Farming Research Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641 003, Tamil Nadu, India

    Ponnusamy Janaki

  3. Directorate of Research, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641 003, Tamil Nadu, India

    Subramanian Venkatesan

  4. Directorate of Crop Management, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641 003, Tamil Nadu, India

    Kandasamy Senthilraja

  5. Agribusiness Development, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641 003, Tamil Nadu, India

    Eagan Somasundaram

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  1. Dhandayuthapani Udhaya Nandhini
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  2. Ponnusamy Janaki
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Contributions

DUN and ES have initiated the concept of the project. Sample collection and analytical works were done by DUN and SV. Data analysis was done by KS. DUN has drafted the manuscript and PJ has reviewed and revised. ES and SM supervised the work. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript for peer review and possible publication.

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Correspondence to Dhandayuthapani Udhaya Nandhini or Eagan Somasundaram.

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Udhaya Nandhini, D., Janaki, P., Venkatesan, S. et al. Assessing changes in soil quality indicators, turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) yield, and monetary returns under different years of organic nutrient management. Org. Agr. 13, 443–460 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13165-023-00438-1

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