Archives

A field experiment was conducted at the Research Farm of College of Agriculture, Rewa (M.P.) during Rabi season of 2013 -14. The study was conducted to investigate the Effect of various levels of nitrogen and planting distance on growth and seed yield of onion. For this study twelve treatment combinations were laid in factorial arrangement in randomized block design with four replications. Healthy bulbs with fairly uniform size of about 40-60g in weight were selected for planting. Four nitrogen levels (N1-100 kg N/ ha, N2-120 kg N/ ha, N3-140 kg N/ ha and N4- kg N/ ha) and three planting spacing (closest S1- 60X10 cm, wider S2-60X15 cm and widest S3-60X20 cm) was considered in this experiment. The different nitrogen levels and planting distance had significant effect on growth parameters viz; plant height, number of leaves per plant, days required for fifty percent flowering and seed yield per hectare. The results revealed that the highest plant height (66.77 cm), minimum number of days required for fifty percent flowering (81.63 days) and highest seed yield (17.153 q) per hectare was obtained from the higher dose of nitrogen (160 kg/ha, N4) with the closest spacing of 60×10 cm (S1), while maximum number of leaves per plant (59.52) was found with higher dose of nitrogen (160 kg/ha, N4) and widest spacing of 60×20 cm (S3). The maximum net returns and cost benefit ratio (C:B ratio) were obtained with nitrogen level @ 160 kg/ha (N4) and with spacing level of 60x10 cm (S1) followed by N @ 140 kg/ha (N3) with same level of spacing. Hence, higher dose of nitrogen with closest plant spacing is suggested for onion seed production in Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh.
Keywords: Onion seed, Planting distance, Bulb, Seed yield, C: B ratio