Author(s): M. Chanchan, D. K. Ghosh and J. K. Hore

Abstract: The combination of organic manures viz., compost/vermicompost, potassic mobilising inoculants along with graded (100, 75 and 50%) levels of inorganic potassium were tried for partial substitution of inorganic potassium with organic source in turmeric cv. Suguna. The experiment was laid out at Horticultural Research Station, Mondouri, BCKV, Nadia, West Bengal in RBD with three replications and thirteen treatments for consecutive two years (May, 2012 to January, 2014). The recommended dose of NPK was 150:60:150 kg ha^-1. The uniform dose of inorganic N and P were applied to all treatments. The manures namely compost and vermicompost were applied @ 20 t and 5t ha^-1 respectively and potassic mobiliser (Fraturia aurantea) was applied @12 kg ha^-1 directly to the soil. Maximum plant height (181.70 cm), leaf number (19.65), clump weight (335.38 g), plot yield (32.35 t ha^-1) were recorded in vermicompost + K (100%) + K- mobiliser but maximum tiller (3.46), curcumin (6.52%) and maximum dry recovery (22.84%) were observed in compost + K (100%) + K-mobiliser. The rhizomes from vermicompost + K (75%) + K-mobiliser exhibited maximum oleoresin content. Considering the yield, the vermicompost + inorganic K (100%) + K mobiliser is the best treatment and there is a chance of reduction of 25% inorganic potassic fertilizer through inoculation of potassic mobiliser as yield under the treatment Vermicompost + K (75%) + K-mobiliser (30.65 t ha^-1 ) is more than the treatment Vermicompost + inorganic K (100%)[29.93 t ha^-1].

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