Quality Seed of Onion: Effect of Micro and Macronutrients

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during Robi season for determining the effect of micronutrients (Zn, B, and Mn) with different levels of macronutrients (NPKS fertilizers) on the quality of onion (Allium cepa L.) seed. The experiment was conducted with four levels of micronutrients viz. M1= Zn0B0Mn0 kg/ha, M2= Zn4B1Mn2 kg/ha, M3= Zn6B2Mn3 kg/ha and M4= Zn8B3Mn4 kg/ha and three doses of macronutrients viz. F1= N57P21K39S9 kg/ha, F2= N114P42K78S18 kg/ha and F3 =N171P63K117S27 kg/ha. Application of micronutrients and different doses of macronutrients increased plant height and number of leaves per plant at different growth stages, days required to first bolting, days required to first anthesis, the percentage of seed germination and seed vigor index. The highest percent germination of seeds (88.89%) and seed vigor index (2084.77) were recorded from M3 (Zn6B2Mn3 kg/ha) treatment and the lowest percent germination of seed (84.44%) and seed vigor index (1724.26) were observed in M1 (Zn0B0Mn0 kg/ha) treatment. The F2 (N114P42K78S18 kg/ha) treatment produced the highest percent germination of seed (90.67%) and seed vigor index (2258.20) and F1 (N57P21K39S9 kg/ha) treatment produced lowest (85.25% and 1721.05 respectively). Among the treatment combinations, M3F2 (Zn6B2Mn3 kg/ha × N114P42K78S18 kg/ha) produced the highest germination of seed (94.00%) and seed vigor index (2537.33) and M1F1 (Zn0B0Mn0 kg/ha × N57P21K39S9 kg/ha) produced the lowest germination of seed (82.67%) and seed vigor index (1488.66).