Effect of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium on Growth and Development of Curcuma petiolata Roxb.

Abstract

Effect of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) levels in nutrient solution on growth and development of Curcuma petiolata Roxb. were studied. Rhizome of C. petiolata with 1.86 cm of rhizome diameter were planted in substrate culture using sand : husk rice chacoal with ratio of 1:1 as growing medium. After sprouting, the plants were supplied with nutrient solution containing different combination levels of N, P and K. Other mineral elements were added in nutrient solution at the same concentration i.e. Mg 25, Ca 50, B 0.247, Mn 0.446, Zn 0.23, Cu 0.02, Mo 0.013 and Fe 0.611 mg/l. The   experimental designed was factorial in CRD, comprised of  3 factors i.e.; 1) two levels of N (200 and 300 mg/l), 2) three levels of P (50, 70 and 100 mg/l) and 3) three level of K (100, 200 and 300 mg/l). The result showed that N concentration at 200 mg/l increased plant height, height of bush, bush width, scape length, spike length, spike width, number of coma bracts and number of green bracts to the highest level. P concentration at 50 mg/l gave better result in term of scape length, whereas K concentration at 200 mg/l promoted the highest spike diameter. The optimal ratio of N, P and K in nutrient solution for growth and development of C. petiolata was 200:50:200 mg/l, repectively.