Economics and yield response of onion to plant hormones and age of seedling

The response of three seedling age (6, 8 and 10 week old seedling) of onion cultivar N-53 was studied against different plant hormonal treatments viz., cycocel (500 & 1000ppm), ethephon (2000 & 2500ppm) and paclobutrazol (1000 & 2000ppm) in factorial RBD replicated thrice during Rabi season of 2014-2015. The results showed that 8 week old seedlings outperformed other aged seedlings with highest yield, quality, plant establishment and economics. Data with respect to yield attributes clearly pointed out that 8 week old seedlings performed better and showed statistically higher bulb yield (9.54kg/plot), total bulb yield (212.06q/ha) and marketable yield (205.40q/ha) over the 10 and 6 week old seedling. All plant hormones significantly reduced vegetative growth as compared to control. Amongst them, paclobutrazol @ 2000ppm was found statistically superior in terms of per plot bulb yield (8.57 kg/plot), total bulb yield (190.78q/ha), marketable yield (181.83q/ha) and minimum unmarketable bulb yield of (8.53 q/ha) as compared to other treatments. Interactive effect of paclobutrazol @ 2000ppm sprayed on 8 week old seedlings (A2P2) produced significantly higher marketable yield (279.50q/ha). Economics of the experiment showed maximum B: C ratio in 8 week old seedling with 2000 ppm paclobutrazol (4.4) with higher net returns of (₹ 3, 46,869) as compared to other treatment as well as control.