Studies on quality seed production of onion (Allium cepa L.)
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Date
2015
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
CCSHAU
Abstract
The present investigation entitled “Studies on quality seed production of onion (Allium
cepa L.)” was carried out at Research Farm of the Department of Vegetable Science, CCS
Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar during Rabi season 2013-14 and 2014-15 with two
experiments, i.e., (i) Effect of planting time and paclobutrazol on yield and quality of onion
seed and (ii) Effect of fertilizers and plant spacing on yield and quality of onion seed. In first
experiment, the treatments comprising of three planting dates (D1
: First week of October, D2:
Third week of October and D3: First week of November) and four levels of paclobutrazol (G1:
Control, G2: 500 ppm, G3: 750 ppm and G4: 1000 ppm) were laid out in randomized block
design (factorial) with three replications in a plot of 3.6x3.6 m size. Five competitive plants
were randomly selected from each experimental treatment to record data on various
parameters, which were influenced significantly by different planting dates and paclobutrazol
concentration. The maximum values for days to 50% flowering, number of umbels per plant,
number of seeds per umbel, seed yield per plant and per hectare, test weight, seed germination
percentage, seed vigour index-I, vigour index-II and electrical conductivity were registered
when the crop was planted in first week of October and sprayed with paclobutrazol at 500
ppm concentration (D
1xG
2) during both the years. The treatment combination first week of
October and control (D1xG
1) was found best for length of leaves and flower stalk. The
minimum lodging of seed stalks was observed when the crop was planted in first week of
October and sprayed with paclobutrazol at 1000 ppm concentration. However, the characters
days to sprouting initiation, sprouting completion, number of shoots per plant, seed stalk
diameter, umbel diameter and disease incidence were found non-significant during both the
years. The study suggested that the crop for getting higher yield and quality of onion seed
should be planted in first week of October and sprayed with paclobutrazol at 500 ppm
concentration. In second experiment, the treatments comprising of three fertilizers levels (F
1:
75% recommended dose of phosphorous and potash, F
2: 100% recommended dose of
phosphorous and potash and F
3
: 125% recommended dose of phosphorous and potash) and
four plant spacing (S
1: 45x30 cm, S
2: 45x45 cm, S
3: 60x30 cm and S
4: 60x45 cm) were laid
out in randomized block design (factorial) with three replications in a plot of 3.6x3.6 m size.
The results of the experiment showed that different fertilizers levels and plant spacing
influenced the yield and quality of onion seed significantly. The treatment combination 125%
recommended dose of phosphorus and potash with 60x45 cm plant spacing (F3
xS
4) gave the
best results with respect to days to 50% flowering, seed stalk diameter, number of umbels per
plant, umbel diameter, number of seeds per umbel, disease incidence, lodging of seed stalks ,
seed yield per plant, test weight, seed germination percentage, seed vigour index I , vigour
index II and electrical conductivity of seeds during both the years. The length of leaves and
flower stalks as well as seed yield per hectare were obtained maximum when the crop was
planted at a spacing of 45x30 cm and supplied with 125% recommended dose of phosphorus
and potash (F
3
xS
1). However, the characters days to sprouting initiation, sprouting completion
and number of shoots per plant were found non-significant during both the years. The study
suggested that for getting higher seed yield of onion, the crop should be planted at a spacing
of 45x30 cm and supplied with 125% recommended dose of phosphorus and potash.
Description
Keywords
Onion, Planting date, Paclobutrazol, Fertilizers, Plant spacing, Seed yield, Seed quality