Effects of organic substrates on growth and yield of ginger cultivated using soilless culture

The effects of organic soilless substrates on growth and yield of ginger were studied. In soilless production system, many types of growing media or substrates such as rockwool, perlite, vermiculite and peat have been used to grow many kinds of crops. Alternative substrates that are cheaper and locally available such as coconut fibres and burnt paddy husks should be used as alternative media. The main objective of the study was to determine the most suitable organic growth substrate for cultivation of ginger using fertigation technique. The study was conducted under the side-netted rain shelter equipped with an irrigation system to supply fertiliser solution at a regulated time schedule. Five combinations of growth substrates were evaluated: 100% coir dust; 100% burnt paddy husks; 70% coir dust + 30% burnt paddy husks; 30% coir dust + 70% burnt paddy husks; and 50% coir dust + 50% burnt paddy husks. The ginger plants were selected randomly and the rhizomes were harvested 3 – 9 months after sowing. Plants grown in 100% coir dust gave the best growth performance and yield compared to the other treatments. They produced the highest shoot height (123 ± 23 cm), shoot fresh weight (1,340 ± 235 g) and rhizome yield (5,480 ± 325 g per plant). The lowest rhizome yield (2,570 ± 135 g) was obtained from plants planted in 30% coir dust + 70% burnt paddy husks. Hence, it can be concluded that the ginger plants cultivated in 100% coir dust substrate using fertigation technique gave the best plant growth and yields

EFFECT OF ORGANIC SUBSTRATES ON GINGER GROWTH, YIELD AND [6]-GINGEROL CONTENT CULTIVATED USING SOILLESS CULTURE SYSTEM

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) belongs to a tropical and sub-tropicalZingiberaceae family, which originated from Southeast Asia. Ginger is one of themost widely used herbs contains several interesting bioactive constituentsincluding [6]-gingerol that has potent antioxidant activity and health promotingproperties. Substrates plays an important role for plants to growth in the soillessculture system. Given the nature of the substrate may play a crucial role indetermining water and nutrient availability for the plant and hence may affect themetabolic pathways involved in the synthesis of specific biochemical compounds,this study was conducted to determine the effects of organic soilless substrates suchas coir dust and burnt paddy husks on ginger growth, yield and [6]-gingerol contentusing soilless culture system. The treatments were arranged in a randomizedcomplete block design (RCBD) with five levels of treatment with three replicates.The treatments include, T1 = 100% coir dust; T2 = 100% burnt paddy husks; T3 =70% coir dust and 30% burnt paddy husks; T4 = 30% coir dust and 70% burntpaddy husks; and T5 = 50% coir dust and 50% burnt paddy husks. Results showedthat plant in T1 gave rise to highest rhizomes yield (5480  325 gm) compare toother treatments. Media containing high amount of coir dust (70 – 100%) showedgood growth and increased the rhizome yield up to 36% compared to thosecontaining high amount of burnt paddy husks. There was no significant differencebetween all treatments in term of [6]-gingerol content in the fresh and dry gingerrhizomes. The studies suggested that the secondary metabolites like [6]-gingerolcontent and accumulation were not affected by the substrates. It can be concludedthat 100% coir dust are the best substrates for growing ginger in soilless culturesystem

Effect of Different Nitrogen Concentration on Plant Growth, Yield and Quality of Sweet Potato (Ipomea Batatas [L.] Lam) Cultivated in Soilless Culture System

The soilless culture system effectively promotes plant growth by facilitating water and nutrient uptake by plant roots. To increase sweet potato production (Ipomoea batatas), we developed containerized planting in which tuberous roots were grown in solid substrates in the polybags supplied with a nutrient solution through an irrigation system. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of different nitrogen concentrations on sweet potato plant growth performance, yield, and tuber quality cultivated using a soilless culture system. The experimental setup included five treatments (T1-T5) with different levels of N (0-50-150-200-250 mg L-1), which were mixed in the nutrient solution, while P and K levels were held constant at 150 and 200 mg L-1 respectively. After three months of cultivation, there were significant differences between treatments in terms of plant growth performance, yield and tuber quality. Plants cultivated in the 250 mg L-1 of N showed the highest growth rate including plant height, shoot and leaves fresh weight, number of tillers, SPAD values, number of leaves, and diameter of tillers compared to other treatments. Data also revealed that the highest tuber yield was obtained from plants treated with 200 mg L-1 of N. Tuber harvested from the treatment of 200 mg L-1 of N showed the best quality in terms of Brix value, moisture content and tuber shape and length. Therefore, planting sweet potatoes using a soilless culture system is recommended with the application of 200 mg L-1 of N to obtain the optimum plant performance in terms of growth, yields, and tuber quality