Standardization of organic manuring in Kasthuri turmeric

Kasthuri turmeric (Curcuma aromatica Salisb.) belonging to the family Zingiberaceae is a medicinal cum aromatic plant with multiple uses. Several commercially produced cosmetics and ayurvedic preparations contain kasthuri turmeric. Skin care is the major domain of application of this aromatic plant. Rhizomes of Curcuma aromatica are also used in medicines as a stomachic, carminative and emmenagogue, for skin diseases and recently as a health food in Japan. A study entitled "Standardization of organic manuring in kasthuri turmeric (Curcuma aromatica Salisb.)" was carried out at the Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram to formulate a cost effective organic manurial recommendation for commercial cultivation of kasthuri turmeric. The experiment was laid out in RBD with nine treatments and three replications. The treatments consisted of different doses and combinations of three organic manures viz., FYM, vermicompost and neemcake plus a combination of microbial inoculants viz., Azospirillum, Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), Trichoderma and Pseudomonas.