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Natural Farming Boosts Turmeric Yield by Over Double in Gujarat Study
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News18•25-09-2026, 13:30
Natural Farming Boosts Turmeric Yield by Over Double in Gujarat Study
- •A biotechnology-backed research program at Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University (SDAU) in Gujarat found natural farming treatments more than doubled turmeric yield compared to conventional chemical farming.
- •The study, published in BMC Plant Biology, compared nine natural farming treatments with conventional methods, with the highest-yielding natural farming treatment producing 40.66 tonnes of fresh turmeric rhizomes per hectare, versus 19.3 tonnes per hectare for conventional farming.
- •Conducted from June 2023 to January 2024, the research evaluated natural farming practices using inputs like Beejamrit, Jeevamrit, Ghanjeevamrit, and mulching, alongside conventional fertilizer and pesticide practices.
- •Economic assessment revealed significantly higher net returns for natural farming, with up to Rs 11.04 lakh per hectare when farmers owned a cow, compared to Rs 3.61 lakh per hectare under conventional farming.
- •Natural farming treatments improved soil organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus levels, enhanced soil enzyme activity, and fostered greater microbial richness and evenness, including beneficial bacterial and fungal communities.
Key Questions Answered
The highest-yielding natural farming treatment recorded 40.66 tonnes of fresh turmeric rhizomes per hectare, more than doubling the 19.3 tonnes per hectare recorded under conventional farming.
The field study was conducted from June 2023 to January 2024 using the GNT-3 turmeric variety at Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University in Banaskantha district, Gujarat.
The study found net returns of up to Rs 11.04 lakh per hectare under a natural farming treatment when the farmer owned a cow, and Rs 10.51 lakh per hectare when inputs were purchased, compared to Rs 3.61 lakh under conventional farming.
