Evaluation of Performance of Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) Varieties in Dharmapuri District of Tamil Nadu, India

Turmeric is an important spice crop cultivated in various states of India and Tamil Nadu is one of the leading producers of Turmeric. The productivity of Turmeric in Tamil Nadu was 3.80 MT/ha (cured rhizome yield) which is lower than the national productivity. Though there are various factors affecting productivity, choice of varieties was one of the important factors among them. On farm trials were conducted to study the performance of Turmeric varieties viz. BSR 1, BSR 2, CO 2, Allepey Supreme, PTS 10 and Roma at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Papparapatty of Dharmapuri district. The experiment was conducted in randomized block design with three replications. The crop management practices are carried out as per Crop Production Guide 2020 of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore recommendation. The yield data revealed that there was significant variation among the turmeric varieties in various growth and yield determining parameters. Among the varieties CO 2 performed better than the other varieties with highest yield per plant (468.99 g), cured rhizome yield per hectare (6.82 tonnes/ha) followed by BSR 2. The results of the study show that CO 2 performed better in Dharmapuri district when compared to other varieties and hence can be preferably recommended to the farmers for better yield. The yield attributing factors viz. plant height, leaf size, weight of mother rhizome, weight and number of primary and secondary fingers are positively correlated with the yield per plant and hence can be used as criteria for varietal selection.