Studies on Organic Production Technology in Onion Allium cepa L Cv Bellary Red

Abstract

Investigation on organic production technology in onion Cv. Bellary Red was carried newlineout at Agricultural Research Station, Hagari (UAS, Dharwad) during rabi 2006-07 and kharif newline2007-08 to study the effect of organic and inorganic sources of nutrients and planting newlinegeometry on production and keeping quality of onion and influence of post-harvest treatment newlineof different botanicals and bioagents to minimize the storage loss of onion. newlineAmong the different nutrient sources, application of RDF (125:50:125 NPK kg ha-1) + newlineFYM (30t ha-1) recorded significantly higher bulb yield (44.5t ha-1) followed by 50% FYM newline(12.5t ha-1) + 50% vermicompost (2t ha-1) + biofertilizers (Azospirillum and PSB at 5kg ha-1 newlineeach) during rabi season . However, both the treatments were at par with each other in kharif. newlineThe storage study indicated that loss of bulbs were significantly minimum and marketable newlinebulbs were maximum (58.23 and 45.41% during rabi and kharif seasons respectively) at the newlineend of storage period (4 months) with application of 50% FYM (12.5t ha-1) + 50% newlinevermicompost (2t ha-1)+ biofertilizers (Azospirillum and PSB at 5kg ha-1 each). newlineThe planting geometry of 15 x 10 cm with FYM (12.5t ha-1) + vermicompost (2t ha- newline1)+biofertilizers recorded significantly maximum bulb yield (38.56 and 34.72t ha-1, respectively newlineduring rabi and kharif seasons) and marketable bulbs (49.28 and 43.67% during rabi and newlinekharif season, respectively) at the end of storage period. newlineThe post-harvest application of Trichoderma harzianum -0.5% with 50% FYM (12.5t newlineha-1)+50% vermicompost (2t ha-1)+biofertilizers during crop growth period resulted in better newlineaccumulation of TSS (%) and dry matter content in the bulbs, maximum marketable bulbs and newlinehighest B:C ratio of 4.95 and 4.18 during rabi and kharif season, respectively with minimum newlinespoilage of bulbs after storage period.