Macro and Micro Nutritional Effect on Seed Yield of Onion
Md. Monir Hossain
Institute of Seed Technology, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Khaleda Khatun
Department of Horticulture, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Md. Ehsanul Haq
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Montasir Ahmed *
Plant Pathology Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur, Bangladesh
Md. Shefat-Al-Maruf
Department of Agronomy, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
An experiment was carried out at the Agronomy Research field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period from November, 2013 to April, 2014 with a view to observe the effect of micronutrients (Zn, B and Mn) with different levels of macronutrients (NPKS fertilizers) on onion (Allium cepa L.) seed yield. The experiment was conducted with four levels of micronutrients viz. M1= Zn0B0Mn0 kg/ha, M2= Zn4B1Mn2 kg/ha, M3= Zn6B2Mn3 kg/ha and M4= Zn8B3Mn4 kg/ha and three doses of macronutrients viz. F1= N57P21K39S9 kg/ha, F2= N114P42K78S18 kg/ha and F3 =N171P63K117S27 kg/ha. All doses of micro and macronutrients are applied to the soil. Application of micronutrients and different doses of macronutrients increased number of umbels/plot, number of seeds per umbel, weight of seeds per umbel, seed yield per plant. The highest seed yield (879.9 kg/ha) were recorded from M3 treatment and the lowest seed yield (787.4 kg/ha). The positive effects of micronutrients were found in order of M3> M4> M2> M1. The F2 treatment produced the highest seed yield (957.6 kg/ha) and F1 treatment produced lowest (776.6 kg/ha). The positive effects were found in order of F2> F3> F1. Amongst the treatment combinations, M3F2 produced the highest seed yield (1027.0 kg/ha) and M1F1 produced the lowest yield (734.4 kg/ha).
Keywords: Allium cepa, macronutrients, micronutrients, fertilizer, onion seed, Taherpuri