A mineral fertiliser has positive effects in improving turmeric nutrients, soil enzymes and soil properties. The aim of this research was to study the effect of mineral fertilisers on the content of mineral elements in turmeric rhizome, soil enzymes activity and soil properties in the Tashkent Region, Uzbekistan. For the first time in Uzbekistan, the turmeric rhizome was cultivated to study the mineral elements present in the rhizome. A microplot experiment was conducted with four treatments including T1 (Control), T2 (N75P50K50 kg/ha), T3 (N125P100K100 kg/ha) and T4 (N100P75K75 + B3Zn6Fe6 kg/ha) and turmeric rhizome, which were collected for observation along with the soil samples. The analyses indicated that the NPK + BZnFe (100:75:75:3:6:6 kg/ha) treatment significantly improved minerals such as K, Ca, P, Mg and Na contents rhizome as compared to the control without fertiliser. Likewise, the maximum quantity of micronutrient content viz., Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cr and Si was also recorded in turmeric rhizome treated with NPK + BZnFe (125:100:100:3:6:6 kg/ha). It showed an increase in these micronutrients in the rhizome compared to the control, followed by a low rate of NPK (75:50:50 kg/ha). The highest content in terms of total N, P, K content, humus, active phosphorus, potassium, and enzymes activity was also observed in soil with the treatment of mineral fertiliser viz., NPK + BznFe (100:75:75:3:6:6 kg/ha), which enhanced soil nutrient and enzyme activity. The NPK + BznFe (100:75:75:3:6:6 kg/ha) treatment significantly increased the active N content by 40%, total P content by 38% and total K content by 22% in comparison to the control without mineral fertiliser. Overall, it was found that NPK + BznFe (100:75:75:3:6:6 kg/ha) was significantly valuable for enhancing the total nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels in the soil compared to control, which is useful for improving soil health in terms of soil enzyme and soil nutrients. Additionally, the micronutrients in turmeric rhizome were significantly enhanced when using this combination of fertiliser applications [NPK + BznFe (100:75:75:3:6:6 kg/ha)]. Therefore, this present study revealed that the NPK+BznFe (100:75:75:3:6:6 kg/ha) could produce the most significant yield of high-quality turmeric plants and improve soil properties in Uzbek soil–climate conditions.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) is an important medicinal crop grown for its aromatic rhizome which is used as a spice, food, flavouring agent and medicine. It has been characterised for its hypoglycemic, hypotensive, antioxidant and antibiotic properties. This study was conducted to determine the impact of plant growth-promoting potential of bacterial strain Bacillus subtilis L2 on plant growth and physiological properties of ginger. The experiment was carried out in randomised block design with three replications in pot experiments. The plants were grown in greenhouse conditions for three months. The results showed that at 8 and 12 weeks after planting (WAP) bacterial inoculation increased plant height, leaf length, number of leaves per plant and leaf width. Inoculation with B. subtilis L2 significantly increased plant height by 16, 20 and 18% compared to control at 4, 8 and 12 WAP. At 8 and 12 WAP, leaf length significantly raised by B. subtilis L2 as compared to uninoculated control. B. subtilis L2 significantly increased the number of leaves per plant and leaf width by 30 and 21% respectively when comparing with non-inoculated plants at 8 WAP. The percentage increase in chlorophyll content resulted from the inoculation with B. subtilis L2 over the control was 10.5%, 15.5% and 18.4% at 4, 8 and 12 WAP respectively. It is concluded that there is a significant positive effect of inoculation with B. subtilis L2 on the growth of ginger. B. subtilis L2 strain can be used as a potential agent or bio-fertiliser for stimulation of ginger growth.

An experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of different mineral fertilizers on mineral contents in turmeric rhizomes and soil enzyme activities and soil properties under field conditions in Uzbekistan. The present study is the first report on the impact of mineral fertilizers in turmeric rhizomes and soil enzymes and soil properties in Uzbekistan. The experiment was carried out with four treatments: T1—Control, T2—N75P50K50 kg/ha, T3–N125P100K100 kg/ha, and T4—N100P75K75 + B3Zn6Fe6 kg/ha. Turmeric rhizomes and soil samples were collected from field experiments at the Surkhandarya scientific experimental station of the vegetable, melon crops and potato research institute, Surkhandarya, Uzbekistan. The data showed that T3—the NPK (125:100:100 kg/ha) and T4—the NPK + BZnFe (100:75:75:3:6:6 kg/ha) treatments significantly enhanced K content by 27–21%, Ca content by 43–38%, and P content by 54–17% in turmeric rhizomes as compared to control without fertilizer. A maximum of turmeric rhizome microelements content was recorded with T4, which also resulted in improved Fe, Zn, Cu, Cr, and Mo contents in turmeric rhizomes and mineral contents of soil compared to other treatments. This treatment significantly enhanced active P content by 34%, active K content by 25%, total P content by 62%, total K content by 14%, and the activities of soil urease, invertase, catalase, and phosphatase over those in the control. The present study results suggest that the application of NPK + BZnFe (100:75:75:3:6:6 kg/ha) improves macro and micronutrient contents in turmeric rhizomes and activities of soil enzymes and physicochemical properties of soil.

No abstract

No abstract