Effects of different substrates on growth and yield of black ginger (Kaempferia parviflora) cultivated using soilless culture

Suhaimi, M. Y., Mirfat, A. H. S., Rosalizan, M. S., Siti Nurzahidah, Z. A., Muhammad Faris, M. R., Zulkefli, A. R. and Mazidah, M.

Abstract
Kaempferia parviflora or black ginger is a rhizome plant with medicinal value. Domestic demand for black ginger is high and has increased significantly because of its medicinal properties. However, the demand for black ginger rhizomes in Malaysia can hardly be fulfilled due to the low production yield. Soilless culture system could be an alternative method for increasing black ginger rhizome yields to overcome the supply shortage problem. The effects of soilless substrates on the growth and yield of black ginger were studied. The main objective of the study was to determine the most suitable growth substrate for cultivation of black ginger using soilless culture system. The study was conducted under the side-netted rain shelter equipped with an irrigation system to supply fertiliser solution at a regulated schedule. Eight months black ginger rhizomes were used as seed with 2 – 3 point buds attached to each seed rhizome. Five combinations of growth substrates were evaluated: 100% coir dust; 100% burnt paddy husks; 70% coir dust + 30% burnt paddy husks; 30% coir dust + 70% burnt paddy husks; and 50% coir dust + 50% burnt paddy husks. The black ginger rhizomes were harvested 8 months after sowing. Plants grown in 50% coir dust + 50% burnt paddy husks mixtures gave the best growth performance and yield compared to the other treatments. They produced the highest vegetative fresh weight shoot height (678 g) and rhizome yield (582 g per plant). The lowest rhizome yield (154 g) was obtained from plants planted in 100% coir dust. Hence, it can be concluded that the black ginger plants cultivated in 50% coir dust + 50% burnt paddy husks mixtures substrate using soilless culture system gave the best plant growth and yields.

Keywords: black ginger, soilless culture system, soilless substrate, coir dust, burnt paddy husks

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