Exploitation of organic inputs for growth and yield of multiplier onion (Allium cepa var. aggregatum) var. Co (On 5)

A field experiment on “Exploitation of organic inputs for growth and yield of multiplier onion” was conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Vaigaidam, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University during 2010–2013 to find out the suitable organic inputs for growth and yield of multiplier onion. The experiment was laid out in a Factorial Randomized Block Design viz., Factor I as four level of organic manures including Control (M1), FYM (M2-12.5 tha−1), Neem cake (M3-2tha−1) and Vermicompost (M4-2tha−1) and Factor II as five levels of biostimulants comprising Control (S1-water spray), Humic acid @ 0.2% (S2), Panchagavya @ 2% (S3), vermiwash @ 2% (S4) and seaweed extract @ 2% (S5). Totally 20 treatments were replicated in thrice. Soil application of FYM@12.5 tha−1 significantly increased the plant height, number of leaves, leaf length and leaf breadth at 30 DAP, 60 DAP, 90 DAP and at the time of harvest and yield attributing traits viz., bulb length, bulb girth, number of bulblets per clump, individual bulb weight, yield per plot and yield per hectare. Among the different biostimulants, foliar application of seaweed extract@2% registered significantly higher plant height, number of leaves, leaf length and leaf breadth at 30 DAP, 60 DAP, 90 DAP and at the time of harvest and yield attributing traits viz., bulb length, bulb girth, number of bulblets per clump, individual bulb weight, yield per plot and yield per hectare. Interaction effect showed that combined application of FYM @ 12.5 tha−1+seaweed extract @ 2% recorded the highest values for plant height, number of leaves, leaf length and leaf breadth at 30 DAP, 60 DAP, 90 DAP and at the time of harvest and yield attributing traits viz., bulb length, bulb girth, number of bulblets per clump, individual bulb weight, yield per plot and yield per hectare.