Rabi Onion Research Articles

Potential of Trichoderma strains to positively modulate plant growth processes and bulb yield in Rabi onion

The use of beneficial microbes is hitherto known and constantly increasing in agriculture due to their positive impact on crop growth and yield, and their minimal negative impact on the environment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of eight Trichoderma strains of diverse origin on crop growth and yield of onion under field conditions. The identity of the strains used in the current study was confirmed by ITS and Tef1 gene sequencing. Field experiments were conducted in the Rabi season for 2 years (2020–21, and 2022–23) to evaluate the effect of the application of eight different Trichoderma strains that were applied individually and separately as eight different treatments (T1–T8) in experimental plots. In the plant growth promotion assay conducted in vitro, all strains showed the ability to produce IAA (indole-3-acetic acid), with levels ranging from 23.52 μg/mL (T6) to 45.54 μg/mL (T3). Our results revealed that Trichoderma treated experimental plots displayed better growth indices (plant height, pseudostem diameter), RWC (Relative water content), leaf chlorophyll content, and yield-attributing features like biomass (bulb and root dry mass), bulb diameter, and harvested bulb yield compared to the untreated control plants. In terms of yield, the T2 strain exhibited the highest bulb yield consistently for both the years (2020–21 and 2022–23) followed by T3 being statistically at par with T5. Among all the evaluated Trichoderma strains, the strain T2 (OGRDT2) and T3 (GRDT1), taxonomically identified as Trichoderma longibrachiatum, registered bulb yield of 32.24 t/ha and 30.76 t/ha, respectively while T5 (GRDT3), identified as Trichoderma asperellum, registered 30.55 t/ha average yield for 2 years compared to 24.08 t/ha average yield recorded for untreated control plants with an increase of 34, 28 and 27%, respectively. Based on our findings, it is concluded that the T. longibrachiatum strains OGRDT2 (T2) and GRDT1 (T3), T. asperellum strain GRDT3 (T5) are the best inducers of the onion crop growth and yield in the Rabi season and would be explored further for its commercial application in onion farming.

Effect of Soil Test Crop Response Approach on Growth and Yield of Rabi Onion in Inceptisols

Effect of Soil Test Crop Response Approach on Growth and Yield of Rabi Onion in Inceptisols

Bio-Efficacy Evaluation of Herbicides for Weed Management in Rabi Onion

A field experiment entitled “Bio-efficacy evaluation of herbicides for weed management in rabi onion” was conducted at Weed Control Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh (Gujarat) during the rabi season of 2021-22 on medium black calcareous soil. The experiment comprising 14 treatments was laid out in a randomized block design with three replications. The results revealed that next to weed-free treatment, tank-mix pendimethalin 450 g/ha + oxyfluorfen 120 g/ha as pre-planting fb HW at 40 DATP, tank-mix pendimethalin 450 g/ha + oxyfluorfen 120 g/ha as pre-planting fb pre-mix propaquizafop + oxyfluorfen 43.75+105 g/ha at 40 DATP and tank-mix pendimethalin 450 g/ha + oxyfluorfen 120 g/ha as pre-planting fb pre-mix quizalofop + oxyfluorfen 100 g/ha at 40 DATP control of complex weed flora, reduced population and dry matter of weeds and having less reduction in yield due to better control of weeds, less crop-weed competition, higher weed control efficiency.

Vegetation Indices Based Spatial Water Demand of Rabi Onion Crop

There are numerous methods for estimating the water requirements of crops. However, the FAO Penman-Monteith Method has been adopted worldwide but it lacks spatial variability. The accuracy can be improved by adopting VI based method. Therefore, the present study was planned to investigate the use of vegetation indices (VIs) as a surrogate of crop coefficients in place of tabulated crop coefficients and find the best VI in the case of onion crops which require the amount of water. The study was conducted in 3 districts of Maharashtra i.e. Nashik, Dhule, and Jalgaon where onion is a major rabi crop grown on a large scale, for two consecutive rabi seasons of the year 2020-21 and 2021-22. Multitemporal vegetation indices such as NDVI, NDWI, SAVI, MSAVI2, and RVI were estimated using temporal images of Sentinel 2A satellite during the growth period of onion and week-wise values were obtained by using ERDAS Imagine. Linear regression was applied on VI values versus Kc recommended by MPKV, Rahuri which resulted in linear models. NDWI-Kc model showed the strongest relation with high R2 values. The spatial crop evapotranspiration (ETc) was then calculated by applying this model. For the 2020–21 growing season, the total crop evapotranspiration for onions in Dhule, Jalgaon and Nashik was calculated to be 486.5 mm, 482.7 mm, and 488.7 mm, respectively. Whereas during 2021–22, it was estimated to be 493.7 mm, 473.9 mm, and 477.2 mm, respectively in these districts. For getting water demand crop evapotranspiration values were multiplied by the acreage estimated by remote sensing. Total water demand for rabi onion for the districts Dhule, Jalgaon and Nashik was found to be 70.54 Mm3, 43.8 Mm3 and 693.2 Mm3, respectively and 128.1 Mm3, 33.9 Mm3, and 825.7Mm3 respectively for the years 2020-21 and 2021-22, respectively.

Effect of weed management on growth and yield of Rabi onion

Effect of weed management on growth and yield of Rabi onion

Effect of Age of Seedling on Bolting and Yield of Rabi Onion Cv. NHRDF Red-3

Onion is one of the most important bulb crops of the Nalanda district. The trial is conducted to reduce the bolting percentage and improve the yield by transplanting onion seedlings at the proper age. Farmers are usually transplanting 75 to 80 days old seedlings in the Nalanda district. In this trail, farmers transplanted 60 days and 55 days old seedlings for consecutive two the financial year 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. The best result was obtained in the case of transplanting 55-day-old seedlings. The maximum bulb weight was 58.86 gm, the minimum bolting percentage was 1.98%, maximum yield 324.63 q/ha with the highest B:C ratio of 02.08 was recorded in the Year 2018-2019 in the case of 55 days of seedlings. A similar result was obtained in the year 2019-2020 as the highest bulb weight was 61.01 gm, the least bolting percentage was 1.98%, maximum yield was 325.25q/ha with the highest B:C ratio of 2.10 as compared to transplanting of 60 days old seedlings and farmers practice. In the case of farmers' practice, the average bulb weight was 57.45gm with a bolting percentage of 6.74%, the yield is 297.28 q/ha with B: C ratio of 1.77 in Years 2018-19, and 57.66 gm of bulb weight, 6.53% of bolting,296.56 q/ha of yield with B: C ratio of 1.76.

Response of Weed Management Practices on Growth, Yields and Economics of Rabi Onion (Allium cepa L.)

The present investigation entitled, “Studies on weed management in Rabi onion (Allium cepa L.)” was carried out at the Vegetable Research Farm of Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture & Technology, Kanpur (U.P.) during Rabi season 2021with the objectives of relative efficacy of herbicides and hand weeding on weed control in onion. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design for nine treatments with three replications. It was observed that the growth attributes viz., plant height (80.25 cm), leaves/plant (10.82), fresh weight of bulb (32.65 gm) and dry weight of onion (17.51 gm) were significantly higher in (T2) over rest treatments, respectively. The yields attributes viz., the polar diameter of bulb (56.70 mm), Equatorial diameter of bulb (68.58 mm) and total bulb diameter (5.97 cm) were significantly more recorded in T2, while the minimum was recorded in control. The bulbs yield (27.03 t / ha). TSS (15.43) was significantly highest in weed free check over remaining all treatments, respectively. Among the herbicidal treatment pre and post emergence application of treatment T8. The number of weeds (m2) and weed dry matter (g/ m2) were significantly noticed that weed free check (T2) was most effective treatment as it recorded less weed count 0.68/m2 and dry matter 1.25g followed by 3.63/m2 and 3.45g, respectively. The maximum weed control efficiency (93.3%) and minimum weed control index (0.00%) was significantly recorded by treatment T2, compared to remaining treatments, respectively. The gross monetary returns (Rs.3,24,360.00) were recorded higher in the treatment weed free check (T2) followed by among the herbicides T8 Rs 3,15,240/ ha and net monetary returns were recorded statistically higher in the treatment T8 Rs. 2,21,648.00. Whereas, the highest benefit cost ratio (1:3.71) was recorded in the treatment T7 followed by T6, in the present investigation.

Kharif Onion Production in India- Present Status and Future Potential: A Review

Onion is one of the most important commercial crops in India which is used as a vegetable, spice and rich in medicinal properties. In India major onion producing states are Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Gujrat, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan. In South India onion is cultivated three times in a year as rabi, kharif and late kharif crop whereas, in North India it is generally cultivated as rabi crop. Major portion (60%) of onion produce comes from rabi season while kharif and late kharif crops contributes to a little extent (40%) in some parts of country. Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Rajasthan are major kharif onion producing states. Rabi onion is generally harvested in April-May whereas kharif onion and late kharif is harvested in the month of October-November and January-February, respectively. Major portion of rabi season produce is stored upto October month for domestic consumption. There is a critical gap in supply of onion from the months of October to December. Therefore, kharif onion plays an important role not only in fulfilling consumers demand but also in controlling market price of onion. So far kharif onion production in India is limited to three four states only and it should be prioritized in other states too by keeping in view its importance. Various research perspectives, challenges and management strategies involved in kharif onion production has been reviewed in this article.

Economic Analysis of Marketing Channels of Kharif Vs Rabi Onion in Ahmednagr District

Economic Analysis of Marketing Channels of Kharif Vs Rabi Onion in Ahmednagr District

Impact of integrated crop management strategies in different varieties of Rabi onion on yield and income in hilly regions of Uttarakhand

Impact of integrated crop management strategies in different varieties of Rabi onion on yield and income in hilly regions of Uttarakhand

Effect of Micronutrients on Growth of Onion (Allium cepa L.)

Onion is one of the most important bulb crop grown all over the India. It belongs to family Alliaceae and locally known as Pyaj. An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of micronutrients on growth of Onion (Allium cepa L.) during Rabi season of 2019-2020 at the Horticultural Research centre of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut (U.P.). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. The maximum plant height (27.18, 43.32, 49.22 and 47.45 cm at 30, 60, 90 and at harvest after days of transplanting, respectively), number of leaves (5.11, 8.83, 12.87 and 13.98 at 30, 60, 90 and at harvest after days of transplanting, respectively), diameter of stem per plant (6.64, 8.97, 11.13 and 10.95 mm at 30, 60, 90 and at harvest after days of transplanting, respectively) and length of longest leaf at harvesting (43.56 cm) were reported under treatment T9 -RDF + Zinc Sulphate 20 Kg ha-1 + Borax 10 Kg ha-1 whereas the minimum values for above parameters were recorded under T11- control. Hence application of RDF + Zinc Sulphate 20 Kg ha-1 + Borax 10 Kg ha-1 is worth recommendable for formers to get significantly better growth of Rabi onion.

Evaluation of different Rabi Onion Varieties under Bihar Conditions

Problems of onion crop production and their solutions at farming situations were studies with participation of farmers. In this regard, demonstrations on integrated crop management in onion varieties were conducted in 2017-18 during Rabi season by National Horticultural Research and Development Foundation – Patna under National Horticulture Mission, in differentlocationsofBiharthrough(TDTD)TechnologyDisseminationthroughDemonstration at selected farmers' fields. These demonstrations focused on increase productivity/ net returns of onion per unit area and get the feedback from farmers on the performance of onion varieties. The vigour of the variety is one of the major constraints in production of onion. The productivity and economic returns of onion in improved technologies were calculated and compared with the corresponding farmer's practices. All the five varieties recorded higher gross return, net return and cost benefit ratio in improved technologies as compared to the control plots as well as suksagar variety. It was found that farmers were using old varieties of onion crop without proper use of recommended scientific package of practices. Results obtained showed that over the year NHRDF Red-3 variety performed superior over local check. The gross returns Rs 2,95,502.50/ha, net returns Rs 2,10,227.50 /ha, extension gap ( 146.90 Q/ha) and C:B ratio 3.47were also recorded highest in NHRDF Red-3 variety compared to local variety. Technology gap was highest in NHRDF Red-4(92.84 Q/ha), whereas technology index were minimum in improved variety NHRDF Red-2 12.87% which is at par 13.09% in NHRDF Red-3 compared to local check. NHRDF Red—3 with taking 10-12 days more time for maturity, whereas Obtained minimum onion bulb yield with lower returns and B: C ratio in NHRDF Red with it was at par Agrifound Light Red. It was also recorded that Suksagar as a local variety medium adoption index due to taking 25-30 days less time for maturity in comparisons to NHRDF Red -3 and other varieties. This will subsequently increase the income as well as the livelihood of the farming community.

English

A field experiment entitled, “Evaluation of rabi onion genotypes for storage characteristics (six month period)” was conducted during rabi season, 2017-18 at “Scheme for Research on Onion Storage”, Department of Horticulture, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri. Dist. Ahmednagar (Maharashtra) India. The experiment was carried out in Randomized Block Design with seventeen genotypes and one check variety i.e. N-2-4-1 treatments replicated three times. In storage studies results indicated that, the minimum storage losses (Sprouting losses (%), Rotting losses (%), PLW losses (%) & Total losses) were recorded by the genotypes T7, T11 and T10.The minimum sprouting losses (after 6 month storage) was recorded in genotype T11 (1.41 %). It was followed by genotype viz. T7 and T10 (1.51 %). The maximum sprouting losses (after 6 month storage) was recorded in genotype T17 (4.06 %). Rotting losses (after 6 month storage) ranged between T11 (3.19) to T4 (7.46) per cent. The minimum PLW loss was recorded in genotype T7 (14.98 %), followed by genotype viz. T11 (15.64 %), T10 (15.85 %) and T6 (17.16 %). The maximum PLW loss was recorded in genotype T17 (33.26 %). The minimum total losses (after 6-month storage) was recorded by genotype T11 (21.34 %). While the maximum total losses (after 6-month storage) was recorded in T4 (36.49 %). Considering the above results, it could be concluded that, among the seventeen genotypes T7 (RHROR–7), T10 (RHROR–10) and T11 (RHROR–11) found promising for further evaluation.

Hydraulic performance of existing drip irrigation system and effect of used plastic based mulching system on Rabi onion (Allium cepa)

Polythene mulches have been practiced for soil solarisation during winter months in various vegetable crops and have been found superior over other types of mulches, but plastics is create environmental problems. With this in view the present study has be undertaken on clay loam soil at Raipur, Chhattisgarh for Rabi onion. The aim of the experiment was to study the hydraulic performance of existing drip irrigation system under different operating pressure and prepare used plastic based mulching sheet to evaluate their performance in terms of change in micro-climate. In this study eight different types of mulching conditions were considered viz. black plastic mulch (BPM), silver plastic mulch (SPM), used reddish rice bag mulch (RBM), used whitish wheat flour bag mulch (WFBM), used yellowish cement bag mulch (CBM), Paddy straw mulch (PSM), soil mulch (SM) and without mulch (WM) (control) and comparison was done among them in micro-climatic condition. The main micro-climatic parameters like soil temperature, soil moisture content, soil moisture depletion were studied with randomized block designed in three replications. In Hydraulic performances of drip irrigation system were studied for 2.4 l h-1 inline emitters at 1, 1.2 and 1.5 kg cm-2 pressures, discharges from drippers were found to be 1.99 l h-1, 2.22 l h-1 and 2.33 l h-1, coefficient of variation 0.061, 0.044 and 0.029 were found and emission uniformity 95.59%, 96.54% and 96.69% were found, respectively. Also, from this study, it was found that during forenoon soil temperature increases with increasing soil depth but in afternoon the trend was vice-versa. The maximum soil moisture content (27.89%) was found under BPM and minimum soil moisture content (21.52%) was found under used WM. Similarly soil moisture depletion was found minimum in BPM (0.31 mm) and maximum under WM (3.08 mm) under all eight types of mulches. The study concludes that the hydraulic performance of drip irrigation system was found good and needs to be operated at 1.2-1.5 kg cm-2 pressure for 2.4 lh-1 inline emitter. At a particular spacing, the emission uniformity, uniformity coefficient and irrigation efficiencies increases when operating pressure is increased but coefficient of variation and emitter flow variation decreases when operating pressure is increased. Mulching roll can be prepared from used plastic bags which are available with the farmers in plenty and can be reused as mulching material satisfactorily by small and marginal farmers.

Diversity of Insect Fauna of Onion in Low And Mid-Hill Regions of Himachal Pradesh

Present survey was undertaken to determine the diversity of insect fauna associated with rabi onion at three crop growth stages in ten localities representing two agroecological zones of Himachal Pradesh during 2018. A total of 13 insect species including ten pestiferous and three beneficial insects from six orders and nine families were observed. The pestiferous insects were Altica sp., Chromatomyia horticola (Goureau), Euconocephalus sp., Gryllus sp., Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner), Melolontha furicicauda Ancey, Nezara viridula L., Spodoptera litura (F.), Thrips tabaci Lindeman and Trichoplusia orichalcea F. and beneficial insects namely, Coccinella septempunctata L., Coccinella transversalis F. and Hippodamia variegata Goeze. Among these, T. tabaci and C. septempunctata were prevalent in all the ten localities during bulb initiation and development stage. Maximum diversity was observed during bulb initiation stage followed by bulb development, and Zone II was more diverse than Zone I; T. tabaci was found to be the dominant species on onion with relative abundance of 96.9%.

Evaluation of rabi onion genotypes for morphological and biochemical characters

Evaluation of rabi onion genotypes for morphological and biochemical characters

Response of rabi onion (Allium cepa) to biofertilizers in a sandy loam alluvial soil

An experiment was conducted in a factorial randomized block design during rabi 2016-18 at Ludhiana. There were 14 treatments consisting of two factors. Factor I comprised two levels of inorganic fertilizers [100% RDF (recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers) and 75% RDF] and factor II consisted of six combinations of biofertilizers along with a control. The data pooled over years revealed that the utilization of various biofertilizers significantly improved the plant height, number of leaves, 20-bulb weight, bulb equatorial diameter and yield over control at both levels of inorganic fertilizers. However, the per cent increase over their respective control was higher when these biofertilizers were used with 75% RDF than with 100% RDF. Biofertilizer treatments significantly improved the ascorbic acid, total soluble solids and pyruvic acid of bulbs, reduced the physiological loss in bulb weight during storage but the differences in bulb dry matter and ash content were non-significant. The effects of all biofertilizers on soil chemical and microbiological properties were beneficial but non-significant. Two treatments, i.e. 100% RDF + T6 (Azotobacter + Sphingobacterium + Burkholderia) and 100% RDF + T1 (Azotobacter + Bacillus) that exhibited 11.5% and 8.6% increment in bulb yield over control (100% RDF) have been identified. Besides, three treatments, i.e. 75% RDF + T6, 75% RDF + T1 and 75% RDF + T5 (Azotobacter + Bacillus + Burkholderia) registered 8.3%, 7.8% and 7.3% higher bulb yield over control (100% RDF) and therefore may be recommended to save 25% inorganic fertilizers.

Effect of integrated nutrient management on economics of onion (Allium cepa L.) Under north Gujarat condition

The result revealed that the ssignificantly maximum yield (585.07), net return (3,97,195 /ha) and BCR (6.60) was found under treatment T7 (75% RDN through vermicompost + 25% N through chemical fertilizer). Efficient nutrient management in rabi onion, application of 75% RDN through vermicompost alongwith 25% N through chemical fertilizer is beneficial for obtaining higher yield and economic return under North Gujarat Agro-climatic condition.

Beet Armyworm Spodoptera exigua: Emerging Threat to Onion Production

Beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua Hubner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), hitherto a minor pest, had already taken a heavy toll on onion production. Regular monitoring of onion during 2017, for the S. exigua occurrence, revealed severe defoliation by this pest at the experimental farm in ICAR-DOGR, Pune. During the first appearance, about 44.72% plants were damaged with lesser feeding injury, while at the later stage the damage raised up to 81.90%. About 5–8 larvae/leaf fold and 3–4 larvae in an umbel were recorded at peak infestation. Severely infested plots registered with 10–12% damaged bulb after harvest. Overall mean plant damage ranged from 70.0 to 81.90% in some popular rabi onion varieties. However, the damage percentage does not differ significantly among the cultivated varieties which clearly denote the susceptibility of all these varieties. In the coming years, it will undoubtedly be a big problem for all states where onion is an important crop. Hence, much attention is needed, especially on pest bio-ecology in the onion ecosystem, scope of present IPM strategies employed for managing other major pest, bio-control potential and identification of safer insecticides for effective management to avoid yield loss.

Evaluation of onion (Allium Cepa L.) varieties for its suitability in Bundelkhand Region

In order to identify suitable Rabi onion varieties for Lalitpur district, an experiment was laid out during 2018-19. Two high yielding onion varieties were tested with four replications in comparison to that of local variety being grown by the farmers of the area. Different treatments included onion variety Agrifound Light Red (T1), NHRDF Red 3 (T2) and local variety Lalima (T3). The results revealed that highest plant height (59.29 cm) was reported from in Agrifound Light Red and the lowest in local variety (35.2 cm). Similarly, onion variety NHRDF Red-3 recorded maximum number of leaves (10.2), maximum neck thickness (1.62 cm) along with maximum weight of bulb (71.8 g) and marketable yield per hectare (259.5 q). Highest B:C Ratio (2.84) was reported from cultivation of onion variety NHRDF Red-3. It was concluded from the study that onion variety NHRDF Red-3 had better performance in the trial and can be recommended for cultivation in Bundelkhand region.