Impact of integrated crop management strategies in different varieties of Rabi onion on yield and income in hilly regions of Uttarakhand

The field trials were conducted on integrated crop management strategies on three varieties of rabi onion and compared with farmer's practice during the years 2020–21 and 2021–22 in hills of Uttarakhand, revealed that all the three varieties of onion namely Gulmohar, Agri found Light Red and NHRDF Red-3 showed outstanding performance in respect of yield, economics and keeping quality. The result of the investigation envisaged that incidence of damping off and purple blotch disease was very low in Gulmohar, Agri found Light Red and NHRDF Red-3 varieties as compared to farmer's practice (Nasik Red). Among all the varieties, Gulmohar exhibited maximum production, i.e., 362.79 q/ha in 2020–21 and 371.84 q/ha during 2021–22 closely followed by Agri found light red and NHRDF Red-3. However, farmer's practice received minimum production which was 197.80 q/ha during 2020–21 and 204.45 q/ha in 2021–22. The gross income and net income worked out on the basis of production, cost of cultivation and sale price indicated that Gulmohar variety received highest net income of Rs. 536908.00/ha in 2020–21 and Rs. 550982.00/ha during 2021–22. The farmer's practice showed lowest net income which was Rs. 265184.00/ha in 2020–21 and Rs.264305.00/ha during 2021–22. Similarly, keeping quality recorded in different varieties manifested that on this parameter also, Gulmohar variety was excellent in which keeping quality of 195 days realized in 202021 and 198 days in 2021–22 while in farmer's practice keeping quality of 97 and 94 days recorded during 2020–21 and 2021–22 respectively. In totality, it is clear from the intensive field trials and farmer's practice that performance of Gulmohar, Agri found light red and NHRDF Red-3 varieties of rabi onion has been magnificent under management of damping off and purple blotch disease.