Effect of Plant Nutrition on Growth and Development of <I>Curcuma alismatifolia </I> Gagnep.

Abstract

Effect of plant nutrition on growth and development of Curcuma alismatifolia Gagnep. were conducted in two experiments. The first experiment was focused on an accumulation of nutrient contents at different stages of growth i.e. before planting, shoot sprouting, flowering and dormancy stage. The results showed that nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) contents were increased and reached the highest content at its dormancy stage. K content was most abundant and Mg content was the least accumulation in C. alismatifolia throughout the growth period.

                The second experiment was carried out to study the effects of nitrogen and potassium on growth and development.  Plants were supplied with 3 different levels of nitrogen (50, 100 and 200 mg/l) combined with 3 levels of potassium (50, 100 and 200 mg/l).  The results showed that plants supplied with N concentration at 200 mg/l had more plant height, more number of shoots/cluster, more spike length, and more new rhizomes than those obtained from the other levels.  Plants subjected to potassium concentration at 200 mg/l gave the highest number of new storage roots/plant. Plants supplied with the combination of N 200 mg/l and K 100 mg/l resulted in giving more number of new rhizomes than from other treatments. N concentrations in new rhizomes increased with increasing N concentrations. More N concentration decreased K concentrations in new rhizomes and new storage roots.