Improving the growth, yield, and quality of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) through irrigation and nutrient management: a study from an Inceptisol of India

A proper protocol of efficient irrigation and nutrient management for ginger is a necessity for boosting the productivity and quality of the crop in high-intensity cultivated lands. For this, a field experiment for 3 consecutive years was conducted in an Inceptisol of India to optimize irrigation schedule and nutrient management for augmenting rhizome yield and crop water productivity (CWP) of ginger. The trial was laid out in a split plot design with 12 treatment combinations consisting of 4 levels of irrigation schedules viz., rainfed (I1) and a ratio of 0.6 (I2), 0.9 (I3) and 1.2 (I4) of irrigation water to cumulative pan evaporation (IW/CPE) and 3 levels of nutrient management: 100% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) through inorganic (N1), 75% RDF (inorganic) + 25% RDF through vermicompost (VC) (N2) and 50% RDF (inorganic) + 50% RDF through VC (N3). Mean maximum growth and yield components, quality parameters, green rhizome yield (12.63 Mg‧ha−1) and highest nutrient uptake were obtained with I4N2, which was statistically on par with I3N2. The treatment combination I1N2 exhibited maximum CWP. Well-managed irrigation and nutrient scheduling is key to improving ginger production and its marketability for better financial returns.