Effect of organic farming practices on growth, yield, quality and economics of onion (Allium cepa) in dry zone of Karnataka

The field experiment was conducted during summer 2012 and winter season (rabi) of 2012–13 to study the effect of different sources of organic manures on growth, yield, quality and economics of onion (Allium cepa L.). The experiment was carried out in organic experimental plot at Zonal Agriculture Research Station, GKVK, Bengaluru, under organic crop production. There were 13 treatments, comprising basal application of farmyard manure, vermicompost, biodigested and enriched biodigested liquid manures (BDLM and EBDLM applied after swoing in 3 splits), 3 sprays of 3% panchagavya (PG) and vermiwash (VW). Application of enriched biodigested liquid manure (EBDLM) at 100 kg N equivalent/ha + 3 sprays of panchagavya (3%) recorded the highest plant height (42.3 cm), leaves/plant (8.1), leaf diameter (1.46 cm), leaf-area index (4.26), total dry matter production/plant (7.59 g), fresh weight of bulb (143.7 g), bulb yield (42.8 tonnes/ha), neck diameter (1.42 cm), bulb diameter (6.02 cm), bulb length (5.36 cm), bulb size index (32.26 cm²/bulb), ascorbic acid (26.1 mg/100 g), total soluble solid (14.4%), reducing sugar (3.98%), non-reducing sugar (9.05%), total sugar (13.03%), gross returns (4,72,000), net returns (3,61,557) and benefit: cost ratio (4.27).