Effects of Salicylic acid (SA) and Azospirillum on growth and bulb yield of Onion (Allium cepa L.) cv. Agrifound Light Red

The present investigation was carried out during Rabi season of 2014–2015 and laid out in a Randomized Block Design with three replications at Vegetable Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, J.N. Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh). The experimental material for the study was comprised of 18 novel treatments combination of Salicylic acid (SA) and Azospirillum to estimate the best treatment combination in Rabi onion under particular region. The growth parameters under present investigation noted under T₁₇ recorded maximum plant height (cm) at 30, 60, 90,120 DAT (33.28 cm), (37.58 cm), (45.22 cm) and (48.46 cm) respectively, length of leaves (cm) at 30 DAT (32.57 cm), 60 DAT (36.29 cm) under (T₁₇) and T₁₁ (41.75 cm) at 60 DAT and T₁₂ (44.15 cm) at 120 DAT respectively, maximum number of leaf at 30 DAT (8.09) in T₁₄, 60,90 DAT (12.99,17.92) in T₁₇ and at 120 DAT (19.37) in T₁₁respectively, neck thickness (mm) at 120 DAT (13.71 mm) under T₁₁, dry weight of leaf (g) at 120 DAT (3.92 g). The yield parameters also reported best under T₁₇ as average weight of bulb (88.07g), equatorial diameter (67.38mm), polar diameter (60.37mm), double bulb(2.38%)T₁₁, bolting per cent lowest (1.18%), A, B and C grade bulb (on weight basis) (37.22%)T₅, (65.09%) and (34.19%) respectively, bulb yield polt ¹(14.77kg), marketable bulb yield (26.28t/ha.) T₁₃, total bulb yield estimated in T₁₆ (30.47 t/ha). T₁₁ recorded highest gross monitory return ( 450705/ha), net return ( 385020/ha) and benefit cost ratio 5.86.

Eighteen novel treatment combinations of Salicylic acid (SA) and Azospirillum to estimate best treatment combination for growth, yield, storage life of onion.

The application of Salicylic acid @250 mg lit.⁻¹ 30, 45& 60 DAT with Azospirillum @5 kg ha⁻¹ at 60 DAT enhance the growth and yield of onion.

The treatment T₁₁ Salicylic acid (250 mg lit.⁻¹) at 30 DAS, 30,45,60DAT+ Azospirillum (5 kg ha⁻¹) at 30 DAT fetched highest gross monitory return ( 450705/ha), net return ( 385020/ha) and benefit cost ratio 5.86.