Effect of integrated nutrient management in onion for better crop productivity and improved soil health

Onion is major rabi vegetable crop grown for its edible bulbs. In Punjab, farmers grow onion on a large scale and often use chemical fertilizers injudiciously to harness its maximum yield potential to make it viable commercially. However non judicious use of these chemical fertilizers had adversely affected soil health, environment and other natural resources including human health. Therefore, it becomes necessary to reduce the use of harmful chemical fertilizers. Krishi Vigyan Kendra S.A.S. Nagar (Mohali) conducted on-farm trials during 2021-22 at five locations in the district to evaluate the effect of integrated nutrient management (INM) in onion for better crop productivity and improved soil health. The trial was conducted in randomized block design (RBD) with three treatments and three replications. The treatments comprised T₁: Non Judicious Use (Farmers’ Practice), T₂: Application of NPK: 100:50:50 Kg/ha along with 50 t FYM (farm yard manure). T3: Combined application of 110:40:60:20 Kg/ha NPKS along with organic manures equivalent to 15 ton FYM and Azospirillum and PSB (phosphate solubilising bacteria) @ 5 Kg each. The results revealed that treatment T₃ provided highest yield (400.50 q/ha) with maximum BC ratio of 4.34 followed by T₂ (383.32 q/ha) with BC ratio of 3.93 and T₁ with yield of 359.17 q/ha and BC ratio of 3.55. Similar trends were observed for growth parameters. On the basis of above investigation it can be concluded that use of integrated nutrient management practice gave higher yields and better returns as compared to control. Combined application of 110:40:60:20 Kg/ha NPKS along with organic manures equivalent to 15 tonn FYM and Azospirillum and PSB @ 5 Kg each was found to be the best for sustainable production.