Effect of altitudinal locations on growth and flowering of ornamental Curcuma

Ornamental Curcuma is widely available worldwide and has become a necessary export for Thailand. According to Thailand export statistics, ornamental Curcuma (e.g., C. alismatifolia) was ranked second to orchids. Curcuma spp. is the tropical flower. The species are distributed at an altitude of around 500-1,300 m a.s.l. Most ornamental Curcuma rhizome production areas in Thailand are in northern regions (Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, and Phayao provinces). Farmers have mainly grown these crops in the lowland area. However, about 85% of the northern Thailand area is highland. Thus, this experiment aimed to study the effect of different planting altitudes on the growth and flowering of ornamental Curcuma. Two cultivars of ornamental Curcuma, ‘Chiang Mai Pink’ and ‘RT Golden Reign’ were grown at 2 different altitudes, i.e., lowland area (300 m a.s.l.) and highland area (1,200 m a.s.l.). Water and fertilizer were equally supplied in each treatment. The results showed that both ornamental Curcuma cultivars ‘Chiang Mai Pink’ and ‘RT Golden Reign’ grown in lowland area gave a higher first bud sprouting percentage than plants grown in highland area (1-3 months after planting). Curcuma ‘Chiang Mai pink’ grown in lowland area gave more significant results in flowering percentage and flower quality than plants grown in highland area. At 6 months after planting, ‘RT Golden Reign’ grown in a highland area had no flowering. However, both Curcuma cultivars grown in the highland area gave higher results on the number of shoots per cluster than plants grown in the lowland area.