Determination of Optimal Balanced Fertilizer Rate and Irrigation Scheduling for Onion Under Vertisol Soil Type

Abstract

Onion is one of vegetable crops grown under irrigation. In order to improve crop production and productivity irrigation is the only solution for contributing towards food security, self-sufficiency and export market.. The Experiment was conducted in Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center with determination of optimal balanced fertilizer rate and irrigation scheduling for Onion under Vertisol soil type to determine the optimum rate of balanced fertilizers and irrigation intervals and identify the interactive effect of nutrient and moisture levels on yield and yield quality of onion.The experimental treatments had three irrigation intervals, viz., 80%MAD, 100%MAD and 120%MAD and three Fertilizer rates of application, viz., 100kgha -1 NPSB, 150kgha -1 NPSB and 200kgha -1 , and a control fertilizer rate of 100kgha -1 urea. The design of the experimental plot was split plot in RCBD arrangement. The experimental study result showed that Crop Growth and Physiology Parameters, Yield Parameters and Water productivity had no significance difference under blended fertilizer rate application. But in irrigation intervals plant height, marketable yield and total bulb yield of onion was significantly affected. The highest total bulb yield of onion was recorded on the control irrigation (100% MAD) of the interval. Keywords: Blended fertilizer, Onion, Manageable Allowable Depletion (MAD), Irrigation Scheduling. DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/14-4-02 Publication date: February 28 th 2023