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.