Suitability of onion varieties in kharif season under Nimar region of Madhya Pradesh

Abstract

An on-farm trial was conducted in Burhanpur district of Madhya Pradesh during kharif 2014-15, 2015-16, and 2016-17, to evaluate the effect of varieties on growth and yield of onion. Four varieties of onion were planted in randomized block design at farmers’ field with five replications. The data on yield of onion varieties and farmers perception on the varieties were collected. All the varieties were harvested at their maturity (80% top down) and then graded and weighted. The results revealed that highest plant height at 120 days was reported from onion variety ‘N-53’ (57.37 cm) and lowest by ‘Bhima Super’ (53.61 cm). Similarly, onion variety ‘Bhima Red’ registered maximum number of leaves (14.08) and the lowest by ‘Agrifound Dark Red’ (12.97). Maximum weight of bulb (109.36 g) and total yield of bulb (320.07 q ha-1) was exhibited by variety ‘ Bhima Red’ with minimum neck thickness (0.63 cm). The cultivar ‘Bhima Red’ and ‘Bhima Super’ performed well for the Nimar region of Madhya Pradesh in kharif season. The market preference was more in variety ‘Bhima Red’, followed by ‘Bhima Super’ and fetches higher price in the market.