马铃薯覆膜方式对土壤氮磷钾养分与产量的影响

针对宁夏南部山区马铃薯覆膜种植的特殊环境,通过田间试验研究了不同覆膜方式下土壤氮磷钾养分及马铃薯产量变化特征。结果表明,与露地种植相比较,随着马铃薯生育期的延长,全膜覆盖种植表层(0~20 cm)土壤有机质和有效磷具有累积现象,半膜种植表层(0~20 cm)土壤全氮和碱解氮含量较高,但对下层(20~60 cm)土壤有机质、全氮、碱解氮和有效磷含量影响较小,无论是马铃薯全膜种植还是半膜种植均对土壤速效钾含量影响较小,甚至略有降低,其中半膜种植降低最为显著,降幅达47.3 mg/kg。与露地相比较,覆膜种植可显著增加马铃薯产量,其中马铃薯全膜种植单位面积产量最高,达50 609 kg/hm~2,而马铃薯半膜种植由于受后期降雨的影响,烂薯较多,对产量造成较大影响。因此,马铃薯在生长后期降雨充沛的情况下可考虑揭膜管理措施。     

Enhancing phosphorus availability,soil organic carbon,maize productivity and farm profitability through biochar and organic–inorganic fertilizers in an irrigated maize agroecosystem under semi‐arid climate

Biochar amendments offer promising potential to improve soil fertility, soil organic carbon (SOC) and crop yields; however, a limited research has explored these benefits of biochar in the arid and semi‐arid regions. This two‐year field study investigated the effects of Acacia tree biomass‐derived biochar, applied at 0 and 10 t ha^?1 rates with farmyard manure (FYM) or poultry manure (PM) and mineral phosphorus (P) fertilizer combinations (100 kg P ha^‐1), on maize (Zea mays L.) productivity, P use efficiency (PUE) and farm profitability. The application of biochar with organic–inorganic P fertilizers significantly increased soil P and SOC contents than the sole organic or inorganic P fertilizers. Addition of biochar and PM as 100% P source resulted in the highest soil P (104% increase over control) and SOC contents (203% higher than control). However, maize productivity and PUE were significantly higher under balanced P fertilizer (50% organic + 50% mineral fertilizer) with biochar and the increase was 110%, 94% and 170% than 100%‐FYM, 100%‐PM and 100% mineral fertilizer, respectively. Maize productivity and yield correlated significantly positively with soil P and SOC contents These positive effects were possibly due to the ability of biochar to improve soil properties, P availability from organic–inorganic fertilizers and SOC which resulted in higher PUE and maize productivity. Despite the significant positive relationship of PUE with net economic returns, biochar incorporation with PM and mineral fertilizer combination was economically profitable, whereas FYM along biochar was not profitable due to short duration of the field experiments.     

Labile soil organic carbon,soil fertility,and crop productivity as influenced by manure and mineral fertilizers in the tropics

In recent years, organic agriculture has been receiving greater attention because of the various problems like deterioration in soil health and environmental quality under conventional chemical‐intensive agriculture. However, little information is available on the comparative study related to the impact of use of mineral fertilizers and organic manures on the soil quality and productivity. A long‐term field experiment was initiated in 2001 to monitor some of the important soil‐quality parameters and productivity under soybean–wheat crop rotation. The treatments consisted of 0, 30, and 45 kg N ha^–1 for soybean and of 0, 120, and 180 kg N ha^–1 for wheat. The entire amount of N was supplied to both the crops through urea and farmyard manure (FYM) alone or in combination at 1:1 ratio. Results indicated that Walkley‐and‐Black C (WBC; chromic acid–oxidizable) exhibited a marginal increase under only organic treatments as compared to control treatment (without fertilizers and manure) after completion of five cropping cycles. In case of labile‐C (KMnO₄‐oxidizable) content in soil, relatively larger positive changes were recorded under organic, mixed inputs (integrated) and mineral fertilizers as compared to WBC. Maximum improvement in the values of C‐management index (CMI), a measure of soil quality was recorded under organic (348–362), followed by mixed inputs (268–322) and mineral fertilizers (198–199) as compared to the control treatment after completion of five cropping cycles. Similarly there was a substantial increase in KCl‐extractable N; in Olsen‐P; as well as in DTPA‐extractable Zn, Fe, and Mn under organic treatments. Although labile soil C positively contributed to the available N, P, K, Zn, Fe, and Mn contents in soil, it did not show any relationship with the grain yield of wheat. After completion of the sixth cropping cycle, organic treatments produced 23% and 39% lower grain yield of wheat as compared to that under urea‐treated plots. Relatively higher amount of mineral N in soil at critical growth stages and elevated N content in plant under mineral‐fertilizer treatments compared to FYM treatments were responsible for higher yield of wheat under mineral fertilizers.     

旱地多熟间套作不同培肥方法对作物产量和土壤肥力的影响

通过设三季秸秆还田、三季秸秆＋冬绿肥还田、三季栏肥还田、冬绿肥还田及主施化肥为对照等5个处理，研究了山区旱地多熟间套作不同培肥方法的培肥效果，试验结果表明，各种培肥方法的培肥效果依次为三季栏肥还田〉三季秸秆〉冬绿肥还田〉三季秸秆还田〉冬绿肥还田〉对照。     

Impact of boron fertilization on boron fractions at different crop growth stages in cauliflower_cowpea_okra sequence in an inceptisols of North East India

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Horticultural Experimental Farm, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat during the year 2015–17 to assess the impact of boron fertilization on dynamics of boron fractions in soil and crop yields in cauliflower–cowpea–okra cropping sequence. Five levels of boron (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0?kg ha^?1) along with the recommended dose of NPK fertilizer were applied in soil in cauliflower once in each 2 years (2015–17) of experimentation to assess the direct effect of boron fertilization, while cowpea and okra were grown as a suceeding test crop to study the residual effects of boron fertilization in the cropping sequence. Among the different levels of boron, the highest content of all the boron fractions in soil was recorded at rate of 2?kg B ha^?1 at different crop growth stages for all the three crops. Progressive decrease in content of all the boron fractions with crop ageing was noticed. The content of different boron fractions in soil follows the order readily soluble boron (RSB)<oxide bound boron (OXB)<organic bound boron (ORBB)<specifically adsorbed boron (SAB) <residual boron, respectively. The boron level of 2?kg B ha^?1 was found to prominent in increasing the yield in all the crops. In respect of contributions of different boron fractions to yield of crops, oxide bound boron(2.10) was found to be the highest contributor of cauliflower yield, while the residual boron (1.10), contributed the highest to cowpea yield and organic bound boron fraction (1.24) was found to be most prominent contributor of boron in leveraging okra yield.     

西北旱作农田不同耕作模式对土壤性状及小麦产量的影响

【目的】在雨养农业区,旱作区因连年翻耕而引起严重的土壤质量退化,使作物生产力下降,需定期改变其耕作方式。免耕深松隔年轮耕可以降低土壤容重,增加耕层土壤团聚体和有机碳氮的含量,增强土壤蓄水保墒能力,对改善土壤性状和提高作物产量具有重要意义。【方法】本研究于2007～2010年在宁夏南部半旱区进行了两年免耕一年深松 (NT/ST/NT)、两年深松一年免耕 (ST/NT/ST)、连年翻耕 (CT) 3种耕作模式试验,研究了其对耕层土壤容重、团聚体、土壤有机碳氮含量、土壤水分及作物产量的影响。【结果】3年耕作处理后,与连年翻耕相比,NT/ST/NT、ST/NT/ST处理0—20 cm层土壤容重分别降低了4.4%和7.3%,20—40 cm土层分别降低2.1%和5.7%,40—60 cm土层分别降低4.1%和5.5%;土壤孔隙度0—20 cm土层分别提高了4.1%和6.8%,20—40 cm土层提高了2.1%和4.3%,40—60 cm土层提高了5.5%和5.7%。0—20 cm土层,NT/ST/NT处理0.25～2 mm机械稳定性团聚体含量平均较CT处理提高了12.4%,ST/NT/ST处理 > 2 mm机械稳定性团聚体含量较CT处理平均提高了42.0%;20—40 cm土层,NT/ST/NT、ST/NT/ST处理 > 2 mm团聚体含量较CT处理平均分别提高了44.3%和50.4%。两种轮耕模式使0—40 cm土层土壤团聚体平均重量直径分别显著高于CT处理21.8%和22.5%,几何平均直径分别高于CT处理9.6%和9.5%。三个处理耕层土壤有机碳氮含量均比试验前有不同程度的增加,轮耕处理0—30 cm土层0.25～2 mm粒级有机碳含量和 < 0.25 mm粒级全氮含量显著高于CT,以ST/NT/ST处理效果最佳。NT/ST/NT和ST/NT/ST处理0—10 cm土层0.25～2 mm团聚体有机碳含量较CT处理分别显著提高7.9%和10.2%,10—20 cm土层分别提高19.0%和15.7%,20—30 cm土层分别提高10.6%和13.3%;0—10 cm土层 < 0.25 mm粒级全氮含量显著提高9.4%和10.9%,10—20 cm土层分别提高6.8%和10.2%,20—30 cm土层分别提高7.4%和9.3%。研究期间,NT/ST/NT和ST/NT/ST处理较CT处理可显著提高0—200 cm土壤贮水量,其中以ST/NT/ST处理保蓄土壤水分效果最佳。在小麦生长前期,轮耕处理土壤贮水量均高于连年翻耕,生长后期ST/NT/ST处理土壤水分含量最高,NT/ST/NT处理次之。轮耕处理的小麦生物量和籽粒产量显著高于连年翻耕,其中小麦籽粒产量分别增加9.6%和10.7%。【结论】免耕/深松轮耕可显著改善土壤的物理性状和水分环境,显著增加耕层土壤有机碳氮含量,提高作物的生产力,在宁南旱区有重要的应用前景。     

A 60-years old field experiment demonstrates the benefit of leys in the crop rotation

In the 1950s, a long-term experiment was initiated at three locations in Northern Sweden. The treatments included four cropping systems, which differed in the number of years with leys or annual crops in the crop rotation. To create awareness of the experiment as a research resource for further scientific studies, we summarise the history (experimental design, materials and methods, main measurements) and scientific findings of the experiment, as well as reflect on its usefulness and opportunities for further studies. So far, scientific focus has been on the effects of cropping systems on soil characteristics. The main findings indicate that soil porosity and hydraulic conductivity were greater in cropping systems with a large proportion of ley, soil bulk density showed the opposite trend. In terms of chemical properties, cropping systems incorporating more ley also have greater soil organic carbon content than annual crops systems, and both soil carbon and N storage decrease over time in cropping systems with only annual crops. The effects of cropping system on crop yields and quality are areas for further investigation.     

Impact of agricultural land use on distribution of microbial biomass and activity within soil aggregates

The presence of aggregates of various sizes in the soil is an important condition for soil carbon sequestration. In this system, microbial biomass is a key link. This work was devoted to the study of the influence of land use systems on the distribution of SOС, MB-SIR, microbial activity and eco-physiological indices (qCO₂, QR, MB-SIR/SOС and qCO₂/SOС) in relation to the size of soil aggregates. The distribution of SOС, MB-SIR and mineralization activity among the aggregates was heterogeneous. In the soil of crop rotation, high mineralization activity and MB-SIR were found in the aggregates 0.5–0.1 mm, in the monoculture soil in aggregates <0.1 mm and in the control soil in the aggregates 1–0.25 mm. There was a general trend towards a decrease in microbial activity, MB-SIR and SOС availability with an increase in aggregate size. In agricultural soils, microbial activity was determined by large aggregates (>5 mm), while in the control soil, by the aggregates 5–1 mm. Depending on the type of site and the size of aggregates, the differences in microbial metabolism were revealed. The qCO₂ and QR values decreased, and the MB-SIR/SOС and qCO₂/SOС increased in the series: control soil > crop rotation > monoculture. In the control soil, the values of the eco-physiological indices decreased with decreasing aggregate size. And vice versa, in agricultural soils, these parameters were the highest in the microaggregates (<0.25 mm). The monoculture soil, in contrast to the control soil and crop rotation soil, turned out to be more energy efficient.     

Organic residues and their impact on soil health,crop production and sustainable agriculture: A review including bibliographic analysis

Despite their potential as a sustainable source of soil nutrients and organic matter, waste organic residues are often discarded rather than utilized in agriculture. This review examines the current state-of-the-art in the application of organic residues in agricultural production systems by analysing trends and results in published research conducted on their use for soil health and crop production purposes. For this, a bibliographic analysis was conducted on 81 papers collected from the Web of Science database. Our research shows a growing trend in the field, particularly in recent years, with articles from India, China and the United States at the forefront. The most commonly evaluated organic residues were compost, animal manure, crop residues, municipal solid waste and biochar. Soil pH, bulk density and especially organic matter/total organic carbon (TOC) were the chemical, physical and biological attributes most frequently evaluated, respectively. This review indicates that the application of organic residues improves soil health, positively affecting crop productivity in crops such as maize, wheat and rice. However, further research is needed to address the potential risk of soil contamination from potentially toxic metals (PTMs) associated with organic residues, as well as to identify best practices to guarantee food safety and environmental preservation.     

劣质水灌溉对土壤盐碱化及作物产量的影响

长期的劣质水灌溉将导致土壤潜在的次生盐碱化。通过在以色列的大田试验,分析了劣质水灌溉对浅埋地下水位条件下土壤盐碱动态和作物产量的影响。试验在安装有暗管排水系统的试验田中进行。试验田土壤为粉砂粘土,种植有饲料玉米(Zea mays L.)。试验结果显示,高盐碱地下水的侧向运动和蒸发形成了试验田南半部和北半部土壤中盐碱度分布的巨大差异。在试验条件下,0～1.2 m土壤中的盐分在整个玉米生长期内平均增加了7.5%,碱度增大了19.6%。作物产量和植株高度与土壤含盐量成反比,籽粒产量受影响最为严重。利用冬季的降雨淋洗土壤盐分是维持本地区灌溉农业持续发展的关键。     

基于WIN-YIELD软件的黄土丘陵区作物产量地形分异模拟

退耕还林是目前黄土丘陵区整治生态环境和控制水土流失的主体政策。为提高退耕政策贯彻落实的科学性,该文基于WIN-YIELD软件,利用2002年延安气象站的逐日气象数据和燕沟流域地貌、土壤及土地利用等资料,通过对玉米、马铃薯、高粱、大豆和豌豆等作物产量随地形高程、坡度和坡向变化的模拟,以揭示作物产量与地形条件的关系。研究发现：地形坡度对作物的产量有着重要影响,地形坡度越大,作物的产量越低;地形高程除对马铃薯有一定影响外,对其它作物产量的影响不大;地形坡向对不同作物产量的影响普遍较微弱。     

Land use changes the soil carbon stocks,microbial biomass and fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) in Brazilian semiarid area

Land use affect soil C and microbial structure, especially in tropical dry areas. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the land use on physical, chemical, and microbiological attributes of soils from Brazilian semiarid. We analyzed soil physical, chemical, total carbon stocks (TCS), water-soluble carbon (WSC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and microbial structure of soil from forest, no irrigation maize, succession areas (Anadenanthera falcate and Tabebuia alba) and secondary shrubby vegetation. The use of soil influences C stock. The forest soil showed higher TCS and MBC. The conversion in T. alba reduced in 9% soil total bacteria. The multivariate analysis showed that TCS, MBC and FAMEs contributed to separation of natural forest and other areas in the superficial layer. This study indicates that the conversion of forest into successional areas can decrease by up to 44% TCS and 68% MBC. The present study provided alarming data concerning the impact of land use on quality of soil in a tropical dry region in Northeastern Brazil. Our results provide an alternative tool for the management of deforested dry areas that could serve as guideline for management plan to sustainability for agricultural impacted dry areas.     

湘北红壤丘岗稻田土壤有机碳、养分及微生物生物量空间变异

通过对湘北典型红壤丘岗254个稻田耕层样(01～8.cm)进行分析,比较了微地形对稻田土壤有机碳、氮、磷和微生物生物量的影响。结果表明,丘岗底部稻田土壤有机碳、全氮、微生物生物量碳、微生物生物量氮、可溶性氮含量分别比丘岗中下部稻田高14.6%1、3.6%、24.6%、20.4%和95.8%,丘岗中下部稻田土壤Olsen-P含量比丘岗底部稻田高33.3%,差异均达极显著水平(P0.01)。不同部位稻田土壤全磷、微生物生物量磷含量和有效磷库(微生物生物量磷与Olsen-P之和)含量差异不显著。此外,丘岗底部稻田土壤碳磷比、微生物生物量碳磷比和微生物商比丘岗中下部稻田高12.7%,28.5%,8.2%,其差异达显著(P0.05)或极显著(P0.01)水平。但微生物生物量氮/全氮、微生物生物量磷/全磷、土壤碳氮比和微生物生物量碳氮比差异不显著。     

Dynamic economic management of soil erosion,nutrient depletion,and productivity in the north central USA

Physical scientists have presented a wealth of evidence regarding the effects of cropland soil degradation. Because soil degradation has both on‐site and off‐site effects, public policies have often tried to increase rates of conservation over privately optimal rates. Where private incentives leave off and public incentives start up is somewhat controversial, however. Physical evidence, while necessary, is not sufficient to predict conservation actions by farmers in response to the threat of degradation. This paper provides a partial explanation for why farmers may adopt differing conservation strategies, even though they share similar preferences. A model is constructed that divides soil degradation into reversible and irreversible components. We portray nutrient depletion as a reversible facet of soil degradation and soil profile depth depletion as an irreversible facet of soil degradation. Predictions of optimal management response to soil degradation are accomplished using a closed‐loop model of fertilizer applications and residue management to control future stocks of soil nutrients and soil profile depth. Our model is applied to degradation data from nine soils in the north central United States. Three principal findings result: First, due to differences in initial soil properties, susceptibility to degradation, sensitivity of yield to soil depth, and yield response to alternative management practices, dynamically optimal economic strategies cannot be inferred directly from physical results but are inferred from the associated economic implications. Second, optimal residue management is more variable with respect to soil type than to the erosion phase of the soil, implying that substantial gains to targeting are possible. Third, nutrient depletion is a more compelling motivator for adopting residue management than soil profile depth depletion. This implies that motivating residue management requires programs that pay even greater attention to reversible degradation, and therefore the overall farm management implications, rather than strictly to protect topsoil from irreversible degradation. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An alternative eco-friendly approach for sustainable crop production with the use of indigenous inputs under old alluvial soil zone of Burdwan,West Bengal,India

Experiments were conducted on mustard (Brassica campestris cv.B₉) in an old alluvial soil zone of Crop Research and Seed Multiplication Farm, Burdwan University, Burdwan, West Bengal, India, during the winter seasons of 2011–2012 and 2012–2013. The aim was to evaluate the use of vermicompost prepared from municipality waste and Eichhornia mixture and its efficacy on crop growth and yield. Different combined doses of vermicompost, dried cow dung and chemical fertilizer along with Azotobacter and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria compared to full recommended dose of chemical NPK fertilizer (100:50:50) were used to develop an alternative farming technology for sustainable crop production and conservation of natural resources. The variety B₉ gave a significantly higher seed yield and oil content along with other growth and yield-contributing factors as well as being the most economically viable option against treatment T4 (i.e. 75% NPK + vermicompost at 2.5 tons per hectare) among all the treatments applied for the experiment and was found to be superior to other treatments in old alluvial soil of Burdwan, India. In both the experimental years, seed yield and oil content were found to be the best for the treatment T4 and was better than using chemical fertilizer.     

Effect of long-term cropping systems on soil organic carbon pools and soil quality in western plain of hot arid India

Maintaining soil organic carbon (SOC) in arid ecosystem is important for soil productivity and restoration of deserted sandy soil in western plain of India. There is a need to understand how the cropping systems changes may alter SOC pools including total organic carbon (TOC), particulate organic C (POC), water soluble carbon (WSC), very labile C (VLC), labile C (LC), less labile C (LLC) and non-labile C (NLC) in arid climate. We selected seven major agricultural systems for this study viz., barren, fallow, barley–fallow, mustard–moth bean, chickpea–groundnut, wheat–green gram and wheat–pearl millet. Result revealed that conversion of sandy barren lands to agricultural systems significantly increased available nutrients and SOC pools. Among all studied cropping systems, the highest values of TOC (6.12 g kg^?1), POC (1.53 g kg^?1) and WSC (0.19 g kg^?1) were maintained in pearl millet–wheat system, while the lowest values of carbon pools observed in fallow and barren land. Strong relationships (P < 0.05) were exhibited between VLC and LC with available nutrients. The highest carbon management index (299) indicates that wheat–pearl millet system has greater soil quality for enhancing crop productivity, nutrient availability and carbon sequestration of arid soil.     

Effects of rotational tillage practices on soil structure,organic carbon concentration and crop yields in semi‐arid areas of northwest China

Continuous conventional tillage can cause serious soil degradation in rain‐fed agriculture, which reduces crop productivity. Adopting suitable tillage practices is very important for improving the soil and increasing crop productivity. Between 2007 and 2010, a 3‐year field study was conducted in semi‐arid areas of southern Ningxia, China, to determine the effects of rotational tillage practices on bulk density, soil aggregate, organic carbon concentration and crop yields. Three tillage treatments were tested: no‐tillage the first and third year and subsoiling the second year (NT/ST/NT); subsoiling the first and third year and no‐tillage the second year (ST/NT/ST); and conventional tillage each year (CT). A conventional tillage treatment was used as the control. Under the rotational tillage treatments, the mean soil bulk density at a depth of 0–60 cm was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased by 4.9% compared with CT, and with the best effect under ST/NT/ST. The soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration and aggregate size fractions and stability at 0–40 cm depth were significantly (P < 0.05) increased in rotational tillage treatments when compared with the conventional tillage, and the ST/NT/ST treatment produced the highest increases. Significant differences were detected in the SOC concentration in 2 to 0.25–mm size fractions at 0–30 cm depth between rotational tillage treatments and conventional tillage. Biomass and grain yield with the rotational tillage practices were significantly positively influenced over 3 years, and ST/NT/ST produced the highest average crop yields among the three treatments. Therefore, it was concluded that the application of rotational tillage with subsoiling every 2 years and no‐tillage every other year (ST/NT/ST) should be of benefit in promoting the development of dryland farming in semi‐arid areas of northwest China.     

Long term crop management effects on soil organic carbon,structure, and water retention in a cropland soil in central Ohio,USA

The objective of this study was to determine 13‐year management effects on soil properties between a corn–soybean (Zea mays–Glycine max) cropping system (CSRS) and vegetable production systems (VPS) on a soil in central Ohio. Three treatments included in the VPS were: (1) addition of wood chips, (2) permanent raised beds (PRB) with black polyethylene film (20 μm thick), and (3) bare soil surface (BSS). Additionally, (4) animal manure was applied in all CSRS and VPS treatments except for the wood chips (WCP) added plot in the VPS. Research data from the study show that relatively more soil organic carbon (SOC) stock in the 0–20 cm soil depth of the BSS treatment (100.6 Mg ha^?1) was primarily due to differences in the type of soil amendments applied. For example, composted poultry manure was applied in the BSS and PRB plots, compared with input of fresh dairy manure mixed with straw being applied in the CSRS. Furthermore, soil management practices that aided in avoiding or reducing soil compaction (i.e., PRB or application of WCP in the surface) resulted in the overall improvement in soil structure and water retention, compared with that under chisel and disc ploughing done in the CSRS. The highest plant available water capacity (1.79 cm) was observed in the CSRS compared with 0.97 cm under BSS and PRB plots. These trends suggest that the type and amount of animal manure is critical to increasing SOC stocks in intensively cultivated VPS and CSRS in central Ohio, while also improving soil structure and water retention.     

Onion seed productivity,nutrient use,and quality response to drip fertigation in semi-arid India

Crop productivity and nutrient use are mainly water restricted in semi-arid regions. This study was conducted to find out whether the onion seed crop productivity could be elevated through drip fertigation. The effects of irrigation and fertigation levels on yield, yield components, quality, and nutrient use of onion seed crop (Allium cepa L.) were investigated at Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Maharashtra, western India on a sandy clay loam soil. Irrigation water applied at evapotranspiration (ETc) levels at 80% (I₁), 90% (I₂), and 100% (I₃), whereas drip fertigation levels at 60%, 80%, 100%, and 120% of recommended dose [120:60:60 nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium (NPK) kg/ha] were investigated. Three-year experiment results showed no significant differences in number of seed per umbel, seed yield per umbel per plant, seed and straw yield per hectare from the comparison between 100% ETc and 90% ETc. In fertigation, 120% and 100% levels gave significantly higher values of yield components and seed yield than the 80% and 60% levels. The quality parameters decreased with decrease in ETc, but increased with increase in fertigation levels. Fertilizer-use efficiency (FUE) was highest in 60% fertigation and then declined with the increase in fertigation levels. Irrigation at 100% ETc and fertigation at 120% resulted in higher nutrient use, but the difference with 90% ETc and 100% fertigation was non-significant. The 90% ETc and 100% fertigation dose (120:60:60 NPK kg/ha) appears a useful practice to increase onion seed productivity under the semi-arid climate of western India.