Effect of different levels of inorganic fertilizers and compost as basal application on the growth and yield of onion (Allium cepa L.)

An experiment was carried out to find suitable ratio of inorganic fertilizer and compost, which could give an economic yield of onion (cv. Jaffna Local). This experiment was designed in a Randomized Complete Block Design with four replicates. Treatments were recommended dosage of inorganic fertilizers as a control (T₁), ¾ fold of the control treatment + compost (2 t ha^-1) (T₂), ½ fold of the control treatment + compost (4 t ha^-1) (T₃), ¼ fold of the control treatment + compost (6 t ha^-1) (T₄) and the compost alone (8 t ha^-1) (T₅). These were applied as basal application of fertilizer in this experiment. The results of this study revealed that there were significant (P<0.05) differences in the numbers of leaves and roots between the different treatments during the early stage of growth. Relatively higher yield (5.03 t ha-1) was obtained from the plants treated with inorganic fertilizers alone (T₁), whereas compost alone (T₅) produced the lowest yield (3.43 t ha^-1). It was also noted that there were no significant (P>0.05) differences in the yields between T₁ and T₂ as well as T₁ and T₃. The inorganic fertilizers appear to have compensated with slow release of nutrients from the compost and their combined effects would have increased the yield. From this study, it could be stated that half fold of the inorganic fertilizer and compost at the rate of 4 t ha^-1 (T₃) could give profitable yield (4.75 t ha^-1) and this combination could possibly reduce the cost of production in the cultivation of onion.

Key words: compost; inorganic fertilizer; onion; yield

DOI: 10.4038/jas.v5i2.2783

The Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 2010, vol. 5, no 2 pp.64-70