Effect of N, K and S on the Yield and Storability of Transplanted Onion (Allium cepa L.) in the Hilly Region
An experiment was conducted during October 2003 to February 2005 at the Agricultural Research Station, Raikhali, Rangamati to investigate the effect of N, K and S on the yield and storability of transplanted onion (Allium cepa L.) in the hilly region. Fourteen combinations of treatments comprising N (0, 100, 125, 150 and 175 kg/ha.), K2O (0, 75, 100, 125, 150 and 175 kg/ha.) and S (0, 12, 24 and 36 kg/ha.) with a common dose of decomposed cowdung @ 10 t/ha and 75 kg P2O5 were used. Application N, K and S significantly increased yield and yield attributes. The maximum plant height (41.8cm), length of bulb (4.49cm) and diameter of bulb (3.85cm), single bulb weight (41.4g/ha), fresh yield (10.33 t/ha) and gross return (Tk.1,23,960/ha) were obtained with the treatment N125K175S24 kg/ha. The maximum number of leaves (7.67/plant) were obtained from N175K100S24, net return (Tk. 91,322/ha) from N125K150S24 and benefit cost ratio (3.89) was obtained from the treatment N150K100S24 kg/ha. Excessive nitrogen caused rapid deterioration and weight loss of bulbs during storage at ambient temperature. Key words: Onion, seedling, storability, hilly region. DOI = 10.3329/jard.v5i1.1459 J Agric Rural Dev 5(1&2), 58-63, June 2007