Effect of date of transplanting, method of cultivation and varieties on growth, yield and quality of white onion (Allium cepa L)

The study was undertaken to assess the effect of date of transplanting, method of cultivation and different varieties on growth, yield and quality of white onion (Allium cepa L). Under growth parameters higher plant height, number of leaves and neck thickness were recorded in the crop sown on 17 Dec in the flat bed in case of Agrifound White and Gujarat White Onion-1 varieties. Days taken to maturity were lower in crop sown late on 1 January in ridge bed in case of Akola Safed. Bolting and purple blotch were lower in case of early sown crop (17 December) in flat bed under variety Agrifound White. The quality and yield parameters like weight of bulb at harvest, marketable yield of bulb per plot and per hectare, total bulb yield per hectare, diameter of bulb, neck thickness after curing and total soluble solids were higher in the crop sown on 17 Dec in flat bed. The varieties Agrifound White and Gujarat White Onion-1 gave better weight of bulb at harvest, marketable yield of bulb per plot and per hectare, total bulb yield per hectare, diameter of bulb, neck thickness after curing and total soluble solids. The unmarketable yield of bulb per plot and per hectare was recorded in the late sown crop on 1 January in the ridge bed in case of variety Agrifound White. Results showed that the better growth, highest yield and superior quality of white onion can be achieved by growing Agrifound White variety on 17^th December in flat bed.