EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SINGLE-EYE NURSERY PLANT TECHNOLOGY AND FIELD MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR IMPROVING TURMERIC (Curcuma longa L.) PRODUCTIVITY IN THE LOW COUNTRY WET ZONE OF SRI LANKA 

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) productivity is influenced by planting material, nutrient  management, environmental conditions, and agronomic practices, yet these factors have not  been comprehensively evaluated in the low country wet zone of Sri Lanka. This study aimed  to evaluate the effectiveness of single-eye nursery plant technology and different  management practices to improve turmeric growth and yield. This research examined  nursery media performance, compost quality, integrated nutrient management (INM),  temperature conditions, mulching, and shading. Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes L.) (WH) compost was utilized as an organic alternative. Randomized complete block design was employed in each experiment with three replicates. Growth and yield parameters of  turmeric, physicochemical properties of compost and potting media were analyzed.  In the  composting experiment, WH, cattle manure (CM), and Albizia-sawdust (AS) were used. The  CM and AS were mixed (1:1) and combined with WH at different ratios: T0 (1:0), T1 (1:1), T2 (2:1), and T3 (3:1). Compost analysis was conducted in the 60^th, 90^th and 120^th days  during the process. In the nursery experiment, five potting media mixtures: T0 (topsoil + cattle manure + coir dust + sand, 1:1:1:1), T1 (topsoil + WH compost + coir dust + sand, 1:1:1:1), T2 (topsoil + commercial compost + coir dust + sand, 1:1:1:1), T3 (topsoil + WH compost + sand, 1:1:1), and T4 (topsoil + commercial compost + sand, 1:1:1) were evaluated. Turmeric cultivation using single-eye nursery plants was compared with conventional cultivation under varying spacing and rhizome sizes: T0: (30 cm x 30 cm; 35 - 45 g), T1: (30 cm x 30 cm; 5-10 g), T2: (30 cm x 15 cm; 5-10 g), and T3: (15 cm x 15 cm; 5-10 g). The INM trial included T1 (100% inorganic fertilizer as the control), T2 (25% inorganic + 20 t/ha compost), T3 (50% inorganic + 20 t/ha compost), and T4 (75% inorganic + 20 t/ha compost). Additional experiments evaluated plant performance under open field and greenhouse conditions, mulching materials (paddy straw, paddy husk, cinnamon  residue), and shading levels (0%, 50%, and 70%). Data were analyzed using one-way  ANOVA, mean separation tests, using IBM SPSS software.  Results showed that T2 (WH:M = 2:1) was the most nutrient-rich and well balanced compost. In the nursery experiment, T4 provided optimal growth conditions, while T2 had nitrogen and potassium retention. In field  trials, the conventional planting (T0) maximized plant growth, while T3 (15 cm x 15 cm; 5 - 10 g) resulted in the highest yield (79,937.60 kg/ha) and economic return (net income of LKR 13,317,520/ha). The INM treatment T3 (50% inorganic fertilizer + 20 MT/ha compost)  significantly improved growth and yield. Open field cultivation outperformed greenhouse cultivation, with significantly greater fresh yield per plant (561.80±57.20 g). Among mulches, cinnamon residue produced significantly the highest yield, though leaf traits were unaffected. Moderate shading (50%) improved productivity compared to full sun or 70% shading. Overall, the study confirms that single-eye nursery plant technology combined with optimized field management practices significantly enhances turmeric productivity and profitability. Further multi-location validation, integration with precision agriculture, and soil health evaluation would strengthen long-term sustainability. 

Keywords: Agronomic practices, cost effectiveness, field productivity, turmeric, water 
hyacinth