The Effect of NPK, Zinc and Boron on Growth and Yield of Onion (Allium cepa L.)

Abstract

The production performance of a crop depends on many factors and fertilization is one of them. This plays a significant role in enhancing the production of a commercially important crop, onion. Based on this, a field experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2022-23 in Horticulture farm, Department of HPHT, Palli Siksha Bhavana, Visva Bharati, Sriniketan to evaluate the effect of different nutrients i.e. NPK, Sulphur, Zinc and boron on onion by adopting factorial RBD with three replications consisting of two factors. Factor A consists of three levels of different NPK sources & sulphur [F1: NPK @ 125:100:100 (through 10-26-26 & Urea), F2: NPK @ 125:100:100 (through 10-26-26 & Urea) & Sulphur @ 40 kg/ha, F3: NPK @ 125:100:100 (through Urea, SSP & MOP)]; whereas Factor B consists of four levels of zinc and boron alone or in combination [M0: No ZnSO4 & No Boron, M1: ZnSO4 @ 10 Kg/ha (Basal dose), M2: Boron @ 2g/Lit (20% solution through foliar application), M3: ZnSO4 + Boron].  The results revealed that combined application of nutrients significantly increased the yield and yield attributing components. The plant height and neck diameter were affected by the application of different nutrients in combination or as sole whereas as the number of leaves remain unaffected. The various biochemical parameters i.e. TSS, reducing sugar, total sugar showed higher increase due to application of sulphur and boron and also combination. As application of Urea+10:26:26+sulphur+zinc+boron gave good result in terms of yield and quality so this could be recommended in the red and lateritic belts of West Bengal.