Impact of micronutrient spray on growth, bulb yield and economics of onion

Abstract

Present experiment was conducted as on-farm testing at farmers’ field during Rabi season of 2022-23 and 2023-24 to assess the impact of micronutrient spray on growth, bulb yield and economics of onion crop. Two treatments i.e. T1- Farmers’ practice (without spray) and T2- foliar spray of micronutrient replicated at five farmers field of Jhajjar district. Micronutrients were applied through foliar spray of multiplex general liquid 2.5 ml/ litre (625 ml/ ha) which contains Zn 9%, Fe 8%, Mn 0.50%, Cu 0.50% and Bo 0.25% after one month of transplanting and at bulb formation stage of the onion. The use of micronutrient as foliar spray was found effective in T2 treatment the significantly highest plant height (68.35 & 69.10 cm), number of leaves (6.80 & 6.95), bulb weight (55.38 & 58.80 g) and bulb yield (307.90 & 311.80 q/ha) during 2022-23 and 2023-24, respectively. Maximum net return (₹ 110367 & 211270/ ha) and benefit cost ratio (1.96 & 2.82) were recorded in the treatment T2 whereas, in farmers’ practices were found net return (₹ 88428 & 176530/ ha) and BC ratio (1.79 & 2.55), respectively during both the year of study. Therefore, the use of micronutrient application to be increases the production and recommended for onion cultivation.