Response of onion to different nitrogen levels and method of transplanting in moderately salt affected soil

Abstract

Rapid increase in population and consumption, urged upon the agronomists to develop a comprehensive site specific agro technology to boost up production per unit area and quality of daily dietary onion crop in salt affected soils by improving some basic components of the prevailing onion production technology in Pakistan. In this perspective a detailed and systematic series of field studies were undertaken for three consecutive years (2013 -2015) at Soil Salinity Research Institute, Pindi Bhattian, Pakistan to evaluate different nitrogen levels and the cost-effective planting technique for onion production under salt affected conditions. The experiment was laid out in split plot arrangement using randomized complete block design having three replications. Two planting methods, ridge and bed planting and 4 nitrogen levels, 1-recommended dose (RD) of N (90 kg ha -1 ), 2 -75 % N of RD (67.5 kg ha -1 ), 3 -125 % N of RD (112.5 kg ha -1 ), 4 -150 % N of RD (135 kg ha -1 ) were used. Planting methods were kept in main plots and nitrogen levels in sub plots keeping sub-plot size of 4 m x 6 m. Measurements included were: plant height, number of leaves/plants/m -2 , bulb diameter, bulb mass, total bulb yield, number of flowers/umbel, seed mass/plant and 1000-seed mass. Results showed that maximum onion yield and yield attributes were recorded with nitrogen application at rate of 150 & 125 of RD in ridge planting. However nitrogen application at rate of 125 of RD in ridge planting recorded higher economic returns over all the other treatments and is recommended as most cost effective technique for onion production under salt affected soil as compare to other treatments. . Obravnavanja z načini sadnje so bila na glavnih ploskvah, obravnavanja gnojenja z N pa na podploskvah velikost 4 m x 6 m. Meritve so obsegale višino rastlin, število listov/rastlino/m 2 , premer čebule, maso čebul, celokupni pridelek čebul, število cvetov na kobul, maso semena na rastlino in maso 1000 semen. Rezultati so pokazali največji pridelek čebule in njegovih delov pri obravnavanjih z dušikom 150 in 125 % od priporočene doze (RD) in pri sadnji na grebene. Pri tem je obravnavanje z dušikom 125 % od priporočene doze in sadnja na grebene dalo največji ekonomski učinek v primerjavi z drugimi in ga priporočamo kot stroškovno najbolj učinkovit način pridelave čebule v razmerah zasoljenih tal.Ključne besede: čebula; dušikova gnojila; načini sadnje; slanost; analiza stroškov in koristi

The influence of land management and date of planting on physical properties of Safid e Pai-saye onion (Allium cepa L.)

“…Khokhar [12] also reported that long days and high temperatures promote onion bulb formation. The authors [13][14][15]18,20] reported similar results.…”

“…The highest onion yield and maximum yield attributes including plant height, number of leaves per plants, diameter of bulb, bulb mass and total bulb yield were recorded with nitrogen application at the rate of 135 kg/ha and 112.2 kg/ha in ridge planting. The highest economic return was recorded for nitrogen application at the rate of 112.5 kg/ha in ridge planting [20].…”

Effect of the Irrigation Interval and Nitrogen Rate on Yield and Yield Components of Onion (Allium cepa L.) at Arba Minch, Southern Ethiopia

“…A number of studies have also been carried out to evaluate the effect of N levels on the growth and yield of onions. Applied N doses fluctuate from about 50 to above 200 kg•ha −1 , depending on the region, type of growing onion, and other production practices, like irrigation [22]. For instance, Abdissa et al [23] found the application of 69 kg•N•ha −1 to be adequate for the growth and bulb yield of onions in Shewa Robit, Ethiopia.…”