Soil fertility decline is one of the factors that result in low productivity of turmeric (<em>Curcuma longa</em>, Zingiberaceae Lindl.,) in Ethiopia. An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of N rate and time of application on growth, yield, and quality of turmeric crops in Ethiopia. The trial consisted of five N rates: 0, 46, 69, 92, 115 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>, and five split application times: full dose at emergence, two times (1/2), three times (1/3), four times (1/4), and five times (1/5) equally split applications, arranged in a split plot design with three replications. Plant heights, tiller number per plant, pseudo-stem girth, mother and finger rhizome numbers and weights, fresh rhizome yield, oleoresin and essential oil contents – all were significantly affected by the interaction effects of N rate and time of application. The three times split application of 115 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> produced higher values of these crop characteristics. This application rate also produced a better yield and quality than did two times of application, the most commonly used practice. Therefore, turmeric producers in southwestern Ethiopia should apply 115 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> in three equally split applications to improve turmeric yield and quality.
Nitrogen Fertilizer Rate and Time of Application Affected Yield and Quality of Turmeric (<i>Curcuma longa</i> L.) at Tepi, Southwestern Ethiopia
