Turmeric Production under Shade Management and Fertilization in Degraded Landscapes of Sumba Timur

Research to increase the farm production and income of the people of Haharu Sub District, Sumba Timur was conducted through an understory cropping trial by ICRAF, the local community, Lutheran World Relief (LWR) and Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI). Turmeric was proposed as a priority crop by LWR because the commodity has a good market in Waingapu for both local use and off-island export. An intercropping trial was established on farmers’ land in Mbatapuhu Village, Haharu Sub District, Sumba Timur. Shade treatments included turmeric cultivation under: 1) the canopy of a three-year-old mahogany stand (38% shade); 2) the canopy of a seven-year-old mahogany stand (52% shade); 3) 55% artificial shade; 4) 75% artificial shade; and 5) full sun (0% shade) as a control. Fertilizer treatments included: 1) no fertilizer; 2) 400g organic fertilizer (cattle dung); 3) 800g of organic fertilizer; and 4) 400g organic fertilizer+20g NPK. The results showed turmeric production under 55% artificial shade with 800g organic fertilizer (cattle dung) produced 6.2-7.1 tonnes of rhizome per ha, much higher than production under any of the other treatment combinations. Turmeric perform less well under mahogany stands probably due to heavy competition for water and nutrition. Under the three-year-old mahogany trees competition was moderate and turmeric production was possible, but under seven-year-old trees competition both above and below ground was intense, making turmeric production impractical. Turmeric market opportunities exist for farmers in Haharu but require further development.

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