DIFFERENT SOURCES OF FERTILIZERS IN THE CULTIVATION OF TURMERIC (Curcuma longa L.)

Abstract

Turmeric is a vegetable belonging to the Zingiberaceae family with high nutraceutical properties. Due to its well-known medicinal properties, it is important to reduce the use of mineral fertilizers during its cultivation. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the agronomic performance of turmeric using different fertilizer sources: chemical, organic, and organomineral. The experimental design used was randomized blocks with four replications and six treatments: T1- Control, without fertilization; T2- 50% chicken manure + 50% mineral fertilizer; T3- 50% turkey manure + 50% mineral fertilizer; T4- only chicken manure fertilization; T5- only turkey manure fertilization; T6- only mineral fertilization. The emergence speed of turmeric rhizomes, with an average of 4.92, was not influenced by different fertilizers. Plants that received organic fertilizers achieved greater heights, reaching 27.12 cm in the treatment with turkey manure. Applying organomineral fertilizers promoted greater sprouting, with 5.43 sprouts per plant in the treatment with organomineral (50% chicken manure + 50% mineral fertilizer). The highest yields were achieved in treatments with turkey manure, presenting a commercial yield of 25.22 t ha^-1, a  of 44.9 t ha^-1, and a fresh matter mass of 30.44 t ha^-1. Similar results were observed using chicken manure and organomineral (50% chicken manure + 50% mineral fertilizer). The exclusive use of organic fertilization meets the nutritional requirements of turmeric.