Effect of Foliar Application of Micronutrients on Yield, Nutrient Uptake and Storage Quality of Onion (Allium cepa L.) Grown in Alfisols

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the College of Horticulture, OUAT, Chiplima during 2014-2015 to study the effect of foliar application of micronutrients on yield, nutrient uptake and storage quality of onion var. Arka Niketan. The treatments consisted of foliar application of Fe, Zn, Cu, B, Mn and their mixture at 30 and 45 days after planting including control. Foliar application of the micronutrient mixture recorded the highest values for average bulb weight (69.55 g), plant height (76.05 cm), total dry matter yield (4.79 t ha^-1) and C grade bulbs (33.70 %), whereas, lowest values for percent weight loss (21.09 %), sprouting (4.07 %), rotting (31.08%) and doubles (0.44 %) were recorded in the same treatment. Foliar application of Zn (0.5 %) and B (0.25 %) reduced the production of bolters and recorded lower percent of bolters (6.62 and 6.35 %, respectively). Foliar application of micronutrients did not yield any significant improvement in bulb quality in terms of total soluble solids (TSS). Due to foliar application of Zn and B, highest N (250.0 and 257.5 kg ha^-1) and K (458.8 and 478.4 kg ha^-1) uptake was recorded. However, Mn application had a significant effect on P and S uptake. Among the treatments a significant variation was also noticed in uptake of both macro and micronutrients.