Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Growth, Yield, Quality and Profitability of Bulbs of Onion (Allium Cepa L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Horticultural Research Centre, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut (U.P.) 250110 during the Rabi seasons of year 2021-22 and 2022-23 to fulfill the various objectives of the study entitled “Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Growth, Yield, Quality and Profitability of bulbs of Onion (Allium cepa L.)”. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and replicated thrice. Total 11 treatments have been tried i.e., T1 - Control, T2 - 100% RDF (NPKS @ 120:60:80:40 kg/ha), T3 - 100% RDF + Biofertilizers (Azospirillum + PSB @ 5 kg/ha each), T4 - 75% RDF + FYM @ 6 t/ha, T5 - 75% RDF + VC @ 2 t/ha, T6 - 75% RDF + Biofertilizers (Azospirillum + PSB @ 5 kg/ha each), T7 - 75% RDF + FYM@ 2 t/ha + VC@ 1 t/ha + Biofertilizers (Azospirillum + PSB @ 5 kg/ha each), T8 - 50% RDF + FYM @ 12 t/ha, T9 - 50% RDF + VC@ 4 t/ha, T10 - 50% RDF + Biofertilizers (Azospirillum + PSB @ 5 kg/ha each) and T11 - 50% RDF + FYM @ 6 t/ha + VC @ 2 t/ha + Biofertilizers (Azospirillum + PSB @ 5 kg/ha each). During the experimentation, various observations on growth, yield, quality, economics of different applied treatments and availability of nutrient in soil at post-harvest stage were recorded during whole of the cropping periods 2021-22 and 2022-23. The treatment T7- 75% RDF + FYM@ 2 t/ha + VC@ 1 t/ha + Biofertilizers (Azospirillum + PSB @ 5 kg/ha each) was found to be most effective in terms of growth behavior, yield attributing characters and quality parameters of onion crop followed by the treatment T6- 75% RDF + Biofertilizers (Azospirillum + PSB @ 5 kg/ha each). (Allium cepa L.) However, the maximum availability of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and Sulphur in terms of kilogram per hectare at post- harvest stage and B:C ratio with the highest net return were observed in treatment T7 comprising of 75% RDF + FYM@ 2 t/ha + VC@ 1 t/ha + Biofertilizers (Azospirillum + PSB @ 5 kg/ha each) during both the years of study. On the basis of above findings, it was suggested that the treatment T7- 75% RDF + FYM@ 2 t/ha + VC@ 1 t/ha + Biofertilizers (Azospirillum + PSB @ 5 kg/ha each) may be recommended for obtaining maximum bulb yield and more benefit cost ratio for the commercial cultivation of onion crop in western plain zone of Uttar Pradesh