Effect of micronutrients on growth and yield of onion under calcareous soil environment

Abstract

The field experiment was conducted to study the effect of micronutrients on growth and yield of onion cv. Taherpuri in High Ganges River Floodplain Soils (AEZ 11). Eight combinations of micronutrients were used. The rate of micronutrients were Zn:B:Mo:Mn:Cu:Cl::3:3:0.5:4:1:20 kg/ha in the treatments and N:P:K:S=50:50:100:20 kg/ha were also used as basal. The results were found to be significant in most of the yield contributing parameters of onion like in leaves/plant, plant height, diameter of bulb, fresh weight of leaves, fresh weight of bulb, diameter of bulb and bulb yield of onion. The maximum yield and yield contributing parameters of onion i.e. leaves/plant, plant height, diameter of bulb, fresh weight of leaves, fresh weight of bulb, diameter of bulb and bulb yield were obtained from T4 but splitting of bulb in T7 and fresh weight of roots in T6. The minimum growth and yield contributing parameters were recorded in T1. The response of Zn is more than B but both are statistically similar in most cases and the combination of Zn and B is better for vegetative growth and yield of onion. The response of different micronutrients for onion cultivation in calcareous soils can be expressed the following orders: (Zn + B)>Zn>B>Mo. Any commercial producers or marginal farmers will be benefited if they followed this fertilizer recommendation because Benefit Cost Ration has been calculated in conducting the research.