Evaluation of the effects of FYM and gypsum on onion (Allium cepa L.) production under sodic water irrigation

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar to study the effect of FYM and gypsum on onion (Allium cepa L.) production under sodic water irrigation. Treatments comprised of three levels of farm yard manure (FYM) (F0- no FYM, F1- 10 t/ha and F2- 20 t/ha FYM) and three levels of gypsum (G0- nogypsum, G1- 50% neutralization of RSC and G2- 100% neutralization of RSC) in addition to control (irrigation with sodic water and no FYM and no gypsum F0G0). Results of the study showed that the seedling mortality was maximum (77.50 %) in control (F0G0) treatment, while minimum number of seedlings mortality (18.17 %) was observed in (F2G2) treatment followed by (25.17 %) (F2G1) treatment. There was significant increase in growth and yield of onion with application of FYM and gypsum. Moreover, maximum bulb yield (180.83 q/ha) was recorded in (F2G2) followed by F2G1 (152.22 q/ha) where 100% sodicity of water was neutralized by the application of gypsum and 20 t/ha FYM. Under sodic water conditions, increasing level of gypsum and FYM help in reducing the sodicity of irrigation water and thereby, increasing the yield of onion. The study concluded that in present situation of scarcity of good quality water for agricultural purposes, use of amendments like FYM and gypsum were best alternative for the best possible use of poor quality ground water and simultaneously sustain the yield of vegetable crops like onion which are sensitive to sodic water.