Onion (Allium cepa) yield under different integrated nutrient management interventions

Abstract

Various nutrient interventions affect onion yield and storage quality. Integrated nutrient management interventions need be evaluated for their effect on yield of rabi onion. Three farmyard manure (FYM) rates (0, 25 and 50 t ha-1), three nitrogen (N) rates (75,100 and 125 kg N ha-1), three P rates (30, 50 and 70 kg P2O5 ha -1) and three K rates (30, 50 and 70 kg K2O ha -1) were tested on Punjab Naroya cultivar by using Latin Square Design. A control plot was kept with each rate of FYM application. The treatments were replicated over three artificially created fertility strips. Fertilizer N was the most limiting element. Higher FYM rates though can be used to reduce N, P, and K fertilizer rates, but doubling FYM rate from 25 to 50 t ha-1 did not benefit in general. Bulb yield data indicated that 25 t ha-1 FYM, 100 kg N ha-1, 50 kg of P and K ha-1gave the best results. The results hold significance in view of higher FYM rate recommendation (50 t ha-1) in certain states.