Combination Nutrient Management for Sustainable Economically Effect on Onion (Allium cepa L.) Seed Production at Maitsebri, Northern, Ethiopia

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted at Shire-Maitsebri Agricultural Research Center research station, located in northern Ethiopia to study the combination nutrient management for sustainable economically effect on onion (Allium cepa L.) seed production during 2016/17 dry season under irrigation. Bombay Red onion variety was used for the study. The treatments consisted five combination of NP fertilizer rates {0, 25 %, 50 %, 75 % and 100 % of recommended NP fertilizer rates (69 kg N and 92 kg P2O5 ha-1)} and four rates of vermicompost (0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 t ha-1). The experiment was laid out in a factorial arrangement using randomized complete block design with three replications. Data were collected on onion seed production and its partial budget analysis. The highest seed yield per hectare (1462.5 kg ha-1) were obtained from plants grown at 75 % of RDF with vermicompost at 2.5 t ha-1 which were about 263% higher than seed yield from unfertilized control plot. The highest net benefit (Birr 443693.5 ha-1) was recorded from application of 75 % of RDF with 2.5 t ha-1 vermicompost. It can, thus, be concluded that the combined application of 75 % of RDF with vermicompost at 2.5 t ha-1 can improve yield and quality of seed of Bombay Red onion variety in the study area.