Growth and Yield of Onion as Influenced by Sulphur and Boron with Mulch Materials

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the research farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka. During the period from October, 2018 to March, 2019 to find out the growth and yield of onion as influenced by Sulphur and Boron with mulch materials. The experiment consisted of two factors: Factor A: Four doses of Sulphurand Boron fertilizer viz. F0 = S0kgB0kg/ha (Control), F1 = S20kgB1kg/ha, F2 = S40kgB2kg/ha, F3 = S60kgB3kg/ha and Factor B: Four types of mulch viz. M0 = No mulch and no irrigation, M1 = Black polythene, M2 = Water hyacinth and M3 = Rice straw. There were 16 treatment combinations and experiment was setup in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. In case of Sulphur and Boron treatments at 60 days after transplanting (DAT), the highest plant height 53.38 cm, maximum leaf number 10.48, highest bulb length 4.83 cm,, maximum neck diameter (1.31 cm), highest dry matter content (15.98%), dry matter content of leaf (24.74%), single bulb weight (39.93 g), yield per plot (0.80 kg) and yield per hectare (9.98 t) were obtained from F3 treatment. Among the mulch materials, highest plant height at 60 DAT (52.51 cm), maximum leaf number (10.19), highest bulb length (4.52 cm), highest bulb diameter (5.74 cm), maximum neck diameter (1.26 cm), dry matter content of leaf (23.35%), single bulb weight (39.05 g), yield per plot (0.78 kg) and yield per hectare (9.76 t) were obtained from M1 treatment. In combined effect, the highest plant height at 60 DAT (55.54 cm), maximum leaf number (11.47), longest bulb length (5.51 cm), highest bulb diameter (6.68 cm), maximum diameter of neck (1.42 cm), dry matter content of leaf (27.48%), single bulb weight (42.40 g), yield per plot (0.85 kg) and yield per hectare (11.21 t) were obtained from F3M1 treatment (S60kg/ha + B3kg/ha with black polythene mulch). The highest gross return (Tk. 3, 36, 300/ha), net return (Tk. 1, 88, 934/ha) and benefit cost ration (2.28) was obtained from the treatment combination (F3M1). Accordingly, for high growth, high yield, and economic point of view, F3M1 treatment is recommended in onion cultivation.