Three types of raised plots were prepared using rotten leaves, FYM and normal soil each.  Planting material of about 1cm cut piece of rhizome was planted in three spacings 10× 10, 10 × 20 and 10 × 30cms. Rotten leaves and a spacing of 10 × 30cms was found to be the best combination as the yield and average weight of rhizomes was found to be best in these plots.

Experimental protocol 

A total of 9 raised beds measuring 15 × 90 cms were prepared in the experimental protocol, In three of the beds no fertilizer or leaves was added, while in other three beds rotten leaves were mixed with the top soil to prepare the beds, while in remaining three FYM was added to the top soil before plantation.

All the plots measuring 15 × 90cms were divided into three portions of 15   × 30cms each,  In the first portion of each plot 9 tubers were planted at a spacing of 10 × 30cms, second portion 12 tubers at a spacing of 10  × 20 cms and in the third portion 18 tubers were planted at a spacing of 10 × 10 cms. Planting was done before the onset of monsoons that is last week of June. Harvesting was done in the first week of January when all the plants had shed their leaves. Data of two consecutive years 2007 and 2008 was accumulated for drawing any conclusion.

Results and Discussions

  Best average weight of rhizome(55.66gms) was obtained in the beds which were provided with rotten leaves  and had a spacing of 10 × 30cms followed by the beds (52.3gms) with a similar spacing where FYM was provided. Effect of spacing was very much evident, however the difference in the two additives was marginal with each other but the average weight of rhizome was quite low in case where no fertilizer was provided. Regarding spacing it can be clearly seen that more spacing provides ample scope for the growth of tubers while less spacing restricts the growth of rhizomes thus reducing the growth and yield of tubers. Thus, it is advisable for the farmers to provide some sort of fertilizers to the rhizomatous crops as whatever is the availability of nutrients in the soil they tend to accumulate in their rhizomes thus increasing the yield of crop, when there was no fertilizer was applied there was lack of nutrients available in the soil hence less was the yield. Marginal farmers which cannot afford FYM can collect rotten leaves and mix them with soil for better growth. Thus this study has indicated the benefit of locally available nutrient in the form of rotten leaves, to the rhizomatous crop Curcuma amada. Same could be tried in other rhizomatous crops as well.