Screening of onion genotypes for sets production and raising of early kharif crop

An experiment was conducted to screening of onion varieties suitable for sets production and raising of early kharif crop through sets. Eighteen onion varieties including advance lines were sown in three replications at the Experimental Farm of ICAR-Directorate of Onion and Garlic Research, Rajgurunagar, Pune (Maharashtra). The significant differences were observed in varieties under onion sets production. Maximum number of onion sets were recorded in DOGR-1203 (554.83/m²)followed by Bhima Super (530.17/m²), B-780 (518.00/m²), Bhima Raj (475.33/m²) and RGO-53 (462.08/m²). The sets weregraded according to their diameter as <10 mm, 10–15 mm, 16–20 mm and >20 mm onion sets. Highest percentage of 10–15 mm onion sets was recorded in W-448 (44.88%) followed by DOGR-1203 (44.55%), Agrifound White (44.03%), JNDWO-85 (43.80%) and Phule Safed (42.44%). Different groups of onion sets were planted with three replications for production of early kharif crop through sets. Little variations were observed among four groups of onion sets in respect of marketable yield of all the varieties. Days for bulbsmaturityvaried from 75 to 95 days in crop through onion sets whereas, 96 to 113 days in transplanted crop. On the basis of overall mean of all the onion sets groups, highest marketable yield was recorded in R-Kh-M-I (22.09 t/ha) followed by RGO-53 (20.16 t/ha), Bhima Shweta (20.10 t/ha), Bhima Super (19.13 t/ha), R-Kh-M-III (18.50 t/ha) and these varieties gave higher yield under cultivation through sets in comparison to transplanted crop except Bhima Super. Theresultsclearlyindicated thatearly and higher bulb yield can be obtained through onion sets during kharif cultivation.