Influence of Fertilizer and Weed Management Practices on Yield, Economics and Post-harvest Soil Properties of Onion (Allium cepa L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out during rabi season (September–March) of 2017–18 and 2018–19 at the experimental plot of RRTTS, OUAT, Keonjhar, Odisha to evaluate the nutrient and weed management practices on performance of onion. Fifteen treatmentswere designed in a split plot design. Among all the treatments, the maximum plant height was recorded in N₃W₄ (56.29 cm) which was closely followed by N₃W₃ (55.97 cm), number of leaves plant^-1 was higher in N₃W₃ (12.47) significantly which was closely followed by N₂W₄ (12.33) and N₂W₃ (12.00) and maximum neck thickness was recorded in N₁W₂ (1.39 cm). Among yield parameters, the average bulb weight of onion ranges from 33.56 g (N₁W₂) to 87.6 g (N₂W₃) while, the highest bulb yields of onion (17.37 and 20.40 t ha^-1) was recorded for the treatment which to be exact was applied with pre-emergence application of pendimethalin @ 0.8 l ha^-1 supplement with one hand weeding at 25 DAT with B:C ratio of 1.84 and 1.76 for the year 2017–18 and 2018–19 respectively. Similarly, the treatment combination of N₂W₃ i.e. application of 50% STBFR along with 50% FYM based on N requirement and pre-emergence application of pendimethalin @ 0.8 l ha^-1+onehand weeding at 25 DAT) was recorded the highest. The available nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potash and sulphur content (284.67 kg ha^-1, 14.83 kg ha^-1, 97.43 kg ha^-1  and 11.40 kg ha^-1) in the post-harvest soil was recorded highest with the treatment N₂W₃.