Sulphur and Zinc Status in Selected Soils of Dharwad Taluka and Response of Onion (Allium cepa L.) to Levels of Sulphur and Zinc Sulphate in an Alfisol
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Date
2016-06
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University of Agricultural Science, Dharwad
Abstract
Survey was undertaken during kharif 2015-16, to study the sulphur and zinc status in selected onion growing soils of Dharwad taluka and field experiment on response of onion (Allium cepa L.) to levels of sulphur and zinc sulphate in an Alfisol of northern transition zone of Karnataka was conducted. Soil samples (0-15 cm) were collected from selected eight villages of Dharwad taluka using GPS. A field experiment was conducted under RCBD with four levels of sulphur (15, 30, 45 and 60 kg ha-1) and two levels of zinc sulphate (10 and 20 kg ha-1) having thirteen treatments. Recommended package of practices with fertilizer dose of 125: 50: 125 kg ha-1 N, P2O5 and K2O, respectively + 30 t ha-1 FYM were followed for all the treatments.
Results showed that available sulphur content in surface soil samples of the study area ranged from 8.40 to 31.20 kg ha-1 (mean: 20.02). Twenty and 80 per cent of soil samples were deficient and sufficient in available sulphur respectively. The available zinc content ranged from 0.14 to 0.96 mg kg-1 (mean: 0.65). Fifty five and 45 per cent of the soil samples were deficient and sufficient respectively. Field experiment showed that, combined application of 45 kg sulphur through gypsum along with 20 kg ha-1 zinc sulphate produced highest bulb yield (23.00 t ha-1) and good quality bulbs as indicated by total soluble solids (13.20 oB) and pungency (3.60 μ mol g-1). The same treatment also recorded highest uptake of nitrogen, potassium, sulphur (148.54, 80.57 and 31.26 kg ha-1, respectively) and zinc (277.15 g ha-1) as well as B:C ratio (6.42). It can be concluded that application of 45 kg sulphur through gypsum along with 20 kg zinc sulphate chelated with FYM at sowing was superior with respect to yield, quality and economics of onion cultivation.