**3. Fertilisers recommendations for ginger**

Ginger is an exhausting crop and benefits greatly from the application of nutrients at particular dosage. The need for nutrients varies according on the soil type, crop growth stage, variety and location. The NPK values for ginger have so been standardised by certain experimental trials.

For the entire nation, the AICRP (All India Coordinated Research Project) on spices has recommended 100 kg of nitrogen and 50 kg each of phosphorus and potassium. Application of 1/3 N, full P2O5, half or full K2O, and 1/3 N 1 month or 40–60 days after planting are recommended. The final 1/3 N should be applied 2–3 months after planting [3]. According to ref. [38], the application of 60 kg N, 40 kg P2O5, and 60 kg K20/ha produced good results. According to ref. [39], the effect of N and P on ginger output was inconsequential. Ref. [40] reported that N at 50–100 kg/ ha had significantly increased the yield of ginger by 18 to 32 per cent. For a superior yield of ginger under Kerala conditions, ref. [41] advised using 60 N, 60 P205, and

150 K kg/ha. The optimal application was 100 kg of N, 50 kg of P205, and 50 kg of K20 per hectare, according to ref. [42]. According to ref. [43], the highest yield of 43 tonnes of green ginger per hectare was achieved with 100 kg N, 100 kg P205, and 200 kg K20 per hectare. The need of N application for ginger at the active development stage, or 120–135 days after planting, and the tillering stage, or 200–210 days after planting, was emphasised by ref. [44]. With NPK at 60:60:120 kg/ha, ref. noticed a modest increase in yield. They also stated that when K20 was increased from 80 to 120 kg/ha, the yield of ginger increased. The NPK dose of 80:30:40 Kg per acre was found to be ideal in studies done at Kerala Agricultural University Vellanikkara. It was discovered that the combination application of N and K had a stronger effect than each compound acting alone. N and K recorded the maximum yield at N-180 K–160 kg/ha [45].
