Effect of integrated nutrient management on growth, yield and quality of onion (Allium cepa L.)

The field experiment was conducted in 2009 at the Experimental Farm of School of Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development, Medziphema campus, Nagaland University, Nagaland to study the effect of integrated nutrient management on growth, yield and quality of onion cv. Agrifound Dark Red under foothills of Nagaland. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with three replications. The treatments consisted of T₁ -Control, T₂– 100% NPK, T₃– 75% NPK + Azospirillum, T₄– 75% NPK + Phosphotica, T₅– 75% NPK + Azospirillum + Phosphotica, T₆- 50% NPK + 50% Pig manure, T₇ - 50% NPK + 50% FYM, T₈ -50% NPK + 50% Pig manure + Azospirillum, T₉- 50% NPK + 50% FYM + Azospirillum, T₁₀- 50% NPK + 50% Pig manure + Phosphotica, T₁₁- 50% NPK + 50% FYM + Phosphotica, T₁₂– 50% NPK + 50% Pig manure + Azospirillum + Phosphotica, T₁₃- 50% NPK + 50% FYM + Azospirillum + Phosphotica. Results revealed that application of different levels of fertilizers, organic manures and biofertilizers either alone or in combination significantly increased the growth, yield and quality of onion as compared to control. The maximum bulb yield (18.06 t ha⁻¹), TSS (13.18 º brix) and dry matter (15.89%) were recorded with 50% NPK + 50% FYM. The same treatment also produced the highest net return of Rs 1,29,260 ha⁻¹ with cost-benefit ratio of 1:3.5.