Effect of Foliar Application of Zinc Sulphate on Onion

Abstract

A preliminary survey was conducted in the district and to gather information on problems faced by farmers in the cultivation of onion crop. The results revealed that farmers were facing problem of low productivity of onion. It was found that soils of district are deficit in zinc and due to this, the productivity of the crop was not up to the mark. To overcome this problem, an On Farm Trial (OFT) was conducted by KVK at 10 farmer's field during 2014–15 and 2015–16 to evaluate the effect of foliar application of zinc sulphate on bulb yield of onion in addition to recommended doses of NPK. Foliar application of zinc sulphate @0.5 per cent at 45 and 60d after transplanting was given along with NPK@100: 50: 50 kg/ha, respectively. For raising of the crop, recommended package of practices were followed. The data of the trial revealed that foliar application of zinc sulphate along with recommended dose of NPK (T1) gave maximum yield of onion (275 q/ha) along with the maximum B: C ratio (2.63: 1) compared to the recommended practice (T2) which gave 231.25 q/ha yield along with B: C ratio of 2.19: 1 and Farmers’ practice (T3) where yield of 187.5 q/ha was recorded along with B: C ratio of 2.16: 1 pooled over the two years. Foliar application of zinc sulphate in addition to recommended doses of NPK can be effective practice to deal with low productivity of the crop due to zinc deficiency.