06. Influence of nursery sowing dates, seedling age and nitrogen levels on bulb quality and marketable yield of onion (Allium cepa L.)
Main Article Content
Abstract
Research was conducted at Vegetable Research Area, Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, to study the Influence of nursery sowing dates, seedling ages and nitrogen levels on bulb quality and marketable yield of onion (Allium cepa. L) var. Pulkara. Seed of onion were sown in two different nurseries, from each nursery seedlings were transplanted at three different ages (40, 50, 60 days) and four nitrogen levels (0, 40, 80, 120 kg ha-1) were applied. Results revealed that sowing dates significantly affect all the parameters except splitting % and Total soluble solids (% Brix). Seed sown on 15th September have significantly high bulb diameter (6.937 cm), bulb neck diameter (1.07 cm), bulb fresh weight (150.78 g), bulb dry weight (15.665 g), bolting (41.10%) and marketable yield (13.869 ton ha-1) while seed sown on 15th October have significantly high bulb dry matter (12.98%). Seedling transplanted after 50 days have high bulb diameter (6.6838 cm), bulb fresh weight (137.46 g), bulb dry weight (15.37 g) with medium bulb dry matter (11.55%), bolting (29.89%) and splitting (9.79%). Nitrogen application also significantly affected most of the parameters. Plots treated with Nitrogen 120 kg ha-1 produced maximum bulb diameter (6.82 cm), bulb neck diameter (1.09 cm), bulb fresh weight (141.37 g), bulb dry weight (15.61g) and marketable yield (12.81 ton ha-1) with reducing bolting (24.72%). Interaction between the nursery sowing dates, seedling age and nitrogen levels showed that 50 days seedling from 15th September nursery with application of 120 kg N ha-1 produced maximum bulb diameter, fresh weight, dry weight and good marketable yield but increase neck diameter. 50 days seedling from 15th September also increased the incidence of bolted bulbs which were found to be reduced by 120 kg ha-1 nitrogen. It is recommended that application of 120 kg N ha-1 to 50 days seedling transplanted from 15th September nursery gave best results as compared to others in geographical area of Faisalabad-Pakistan.
Keywords: Nursery; Seedling age; Nitrogen; Bulb quality; Marketable yield; Allium cepa L.