Effect of drip fertigation on yield, water and fertilizer utilization in ginger

In order to increase yield and the utilization for water and fertilizer, the effects of different irrigation styles such as conventional irrigation without fertilization (CK0), conventional irrigation and fertilization (CK), drip fertigation (T1) and 20% reduction of fertilizer in drip fertigation (T2) on the growth as well as water and NPK utilization were analyzed in the cultivar ‘Laiwu large ginger’. Compared with CK, the economical yield of ginger increased by 17.94% and 15.78%, respectively, but the biological yield of ginger in T1, T2, CK did not show significant difference. Although the absorptions of P2O5 were not significantly different among T1, T2 and CK, the absorption of N, K2O in T1, T2 increased by 12.54%, 6.09% and 13.53%, 7.01% over CK, respectively. In addition, the utilization rates of N, P2O5, K2O increased by 19.85%, 12.38%, 19.66% and 37.06%, 30.66%, 37.76%, respectively, in T1, T2 compared with CK. Meanwhile, irrigation water use efficiency increased by 112.71% and 110.64%, respectively, in T1 and T2 compared with CK. The results indicated that drip fertilization favors the balanced growth of various organs of ginger. Therefore, the drip fertigation can noticeably improve the yield, the uptake and utilization rates of NPK and water use efficiency in ginger.