Effect of manure and plant spacing on crop growth, yield and oil-quality of Curcuma aromatica Salisb. in mid hill of western Himalaya

Variation in plant spacing and FYM level did not influence the oil content as well as major oil constituents. The first order rhizomes had higher oil content than the second order rhizomes. Application of 22.5 t ha−1 of FYM provided higher oil yield (234.4 kg ha−1) as compared to 15.0 t ha−1 of FYM (174.1 kg ha−1). Also, oil yield was maximum at 50 cm × 50 cm spacing (213.5 kg ha−1) as compared to closer spacing of 25 cm × 25 cm (191.6 kg ha−1). The pooled oil constituents of the first order and second order rhizomes showed increment in 1,8 cineole content with increase in plant spacing from 25 cm × 25 cm (14%) to 50 cm × 50 cm (17%). Irrespective of the treatments, camphor was the major compound followed by 1,8 cineole and isobornyl alcohol.