Turmeric-curcuma botanical group-resource technologies

Turmeric is a member of the curcuma botanical group, which is part of the ginger family of herbs, the Zingiberaceae. The root and rhizome (under ground stem) of the Curcuma longa L. Plant is crushed and powdered into ground turmeric. Ground turmeric is used worldwide as a seasoning to make curry, and for its therapeutic effects. Turmeric is an ancient spice and has been used as a medicine, condiment and flavoring. Its record dating back to 600 B.C.

Turmeric is one of the largest cash crops in South India particularly in Erode, Coimbatore districts. Turmeric powder contains high concentrations of potent antioxidant Curcumin. Curcumin is a substance in curry long believed to have health benefits. Turmeric has demonstrated anti-cancer effects at all stages of turnover development in rodents and showed potential to kill cancer cells and prevent normal cells from being cancerous. Curcumin a biological active phyto-chemical compound and it is 4% in turmeric.

Turmeric powder is used for various purposes. The solid waste generated is thrown out as waste material on the roadside causes environmental problem. In view of this, an effort has been made to collect these solid wastes and converted into bio-fertilizer using appropriate bacteria, by compost process. This bio-compost is recycled as fertilizer to the turmeric plant.

The solid waste contained about 10% moisture and it is yellowish in colour. It contains nutrients in addition to curcumin content. The solid waste is mixed with bacterial consortium and processed into bio-fertilizer using bacterial consortium. The moisture content of the solid waste was retained upto 35-40% while application of bacterial inoculums. The entire set-up was completely mixed and covered with the gunny bag under anaerobic condition. At the end of 10 days the processed material was exposed to air. The yellow colour of turmeric has been turned into brown soft bio-fertilizer. Raw solid turmeric waste material served as control.

The raw solid turmeric waste content was analyzed for NPK, calcium, Mg, S, Na, organic carbon, organic matter and curcumin content. The results are tabulated as shown in below. While comparing these values that of the processed turmeric waste samples it is found that sample number 3 has increased in its fertilizer value and at the same time the curcumin content has been reduced from 3.19 to 0.11%. Chemical analysis was done by following Hesse´s method.

The incubation period in samples II, III, IV varied from 30 48 days. The sample III was subjected to bacterial application with an incubation of 36 days. There is a general increase in the fertilizer value. However, sample II was subjected to bacterial application followed by urea super phosphate application and the incubation period was 30 days and there is a general increase in the fertilizer value. Similarly, sample IV was subjected to urea super phosphate and the bacterial application with an incubation period of 48 days similar trend was noticed. From the result it is inferred that without urea super phosphate application the solid waste could be converted into a bio-fertilizer with in a period of 36 days. The fertilizer value seems to be high in the samples (Table 1).

Table 1. Turmeric solid waste treatment with bacterial application

Photographs showing raw turmeric waste material sample-I, Sample II - Turmeric solid waste + bacterial application + Urea + super phosphate 30 days, Sample III - Turmeric solid waste + bacterial application 36 days, Sample IV - Turmeric solid waste + bacterial application + Urea + super phosphate 48 days

Table 2. Cost benefit Analysis

From the results it is inferred, that the curcumin content generally 4% in the turmeric and it is 3.19% in the waste material. When the solid waste material is subjected to bacterial application, it is found that the curcumin content decreased as 0.11% suggesting a possible conversion into fertilizer value, which would be available to the plants directly. With reference to the nutrient in the soil, the % of organic carbon ranges between 0.5-0.75% in the soil. The organic carbon in the waste material and the sample is found to be high suggesting that it will be bio-available to the plant for its growth.

The nitrogen and potassium value is high whereas, there is no change in the phosphorus content between the raw waste material and the processed material. Only 70Kg/acre is recommended for the processed fertilizer whereas 89Kg/acre is required for the actual fertilizer. In the case of super phosphate there is no change between the two materials and hence 150Kg/acre has to be applied. With regard to the K, Mg, S, which are available in higher levels in the processed waste material there is no need for the application of these materials. However, these are applied to the turmeric plant in the order of 40, 12, 40 Kg/acre respectively. So, generally, 311Kg/acre of fertilizer is applied for turmeric plants whereas the processed fertilizer it is applied at the rate of 220Kg/acre. Considering the cost of fertilizer it works out to be approximately Rs.2000 per acre whereas the processed fertilizer works out only to be Rs.1000 per acre suggesting a 50% reduction in the cost, which is in economic incentive to the farmer (as detailed in Table 2).