Integrated use of plant nutrients for higher quality yield of ginger (Zingiber officinale) in midhills of Nepal
Keywords:
Crude fiber, Ginger, IPNM, Oleoresin, Rhizome, Quality, Compost, Mid-hills, NepalAbstract
Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) is a high-value crop in Nepal, but its productivity is constrained by declining soil fertility and the inconsistent availability of chemical fertilizers. To tackle this issue, a study was carried out to assess the effectiveness of integrated plant nutrient management (IPNM) on ginger yield and quality in two mid-hill sites: Bhotechaur (Sindhupalchok) and Anekot (Kavre). Field experiments (2023-2024) were laid out in a randomized complete block design with eight treatments combining several types of in situ composts, chemical fertilizers, and micronutrients (Zn and B). Nutrient management treatments had no significant effect on final plant population (p>0.05) or rhizome yield (p>0.05) at either sites. However, notable yield differences were observed numerically. T7 (multimix compost @ 20 tonsha-1) produced the highest rhizome yield at both sites (24.86 tonsha-1 at Anekot and 49.32 tonsha-1 at Bhotechaur), while T1 (control) and T2 (100% NPK + Zn/B) were consistently the lowest performers. Quality parameters (crude fiber and oleoresin) were significantly influenced by treatments, though effects were highly site specific. At Anekot, T4 (50% NPK + fine compost + Zn/B) produced the lowest crude fiber content (13.43%), while T3 (50% NPK + coarse compost + Zn/B) yielded the highest oleoresin content (0.61%). Integrated nutrient management significantly improved ginger quality by reducing crude fiber and improving oleoresin content, despite inconsistent responses to yield across locations. For mid-hill regions of Nepal, application of 50% recommended NPK combined with 10 tonsha-1 quality compost supplemented with zinc and boron is recommended for optimal quality and yield.
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