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Mulches Enhanced Growth and Yield of Onion

M. G. Rachel
Department of Crop Botany, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

M. M. A. Mondal
Crop Physiology Division, Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

M. H. R. Pramanik
Department of Crop Botany, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

M. A. Awal
Department of Crop Botany, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of mulches on soil nutrients and microclimate status, growth and bulb yield of onion cv. Taherpuri. The experiment was comprised of six mulches viz., i) Control (no mulch), ii) Black polythene sheet, iii) White polythene sheet, iv) Rice straw, v) Water hyacinth and vi) Saw dust. Application of different mulches improved soil microclimates, increased plant growth and bulb yield over control. Among the mulches, black polythene mulch showed superiority in growth and yield contributing characters compared to other mulches, resulting the highest bulb yield.

Keywords: Mulch; Soil micro-climate; Growth; Yield; Onion

Location: Field Laboratory, Department of Crop Botany, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

Start Date: 00-12-2014

End Date: 00-04-2015

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Onion

Objectives:

To evaluate the changes in temperature and soil moisture and to evaluate the growth and yield of onion under sub-tropical conditions grown with plastic and indigenous natural mulches.

Methodology:

The experiment was carried out at the Field Laboratory, Department of Crop Botany, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, during the period from December 2014 to April 2015. The popular onion variety, Taherpuri was used as planting material in the experiment. The experiment consists of five different mulches. These are i) Black polythene sheet, ii) White polythene, iii) Rice straw, iv) Water hyacinth and v) Saw dust along with control (no mulch). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design where each treatment replicated thrice. The size of the unit plot was 3 m x 2 m. Distance between plant to plant was 10 cm and row to row was 20 cm. Urea (180 kg ha^-1), triple super phosphate (200 kg ha^-1)), muriate of potash (170 kg ha^-1)) and gypsum (120 kg ha^-1) were used as source of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur, respectively. Well decomposed cowdung (5000 kg ha^-1) was also applied to the field before final land preparation. Thirty five day old healthy and uniform seedlings of onion were transplanted in the afternoon on 10 January 2015. The different mulches were placed on the respective plots as per treatment at 15 DAT with minimum injury to the plants. To study ontogenetic growth characteristics, a total of five harvests were made and at final harvest, data were collected on some morphological, yield attributes and yield. The first crop sampling was done at 40 days after transplanting (DAT) and continued at an interval of 10 days up to 80 DAT. The growth analyses like absolute growth rate and relative growth rate was carried out following the formulae of Hunt (1978). The variation of soil moisture at different growth stages of the crop for different mulched plots was estimated by Gravimetric method. Soil temperature was measured using metal cased soil thermometer. The diurnal fluctuation of soil temperature as influenced by different mulches was measured at 5 cm depth in three hours intervals from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm on 15 February, 2015. At harvest, 10 plants were randomly selected from each plot for collecting morphological and yield contributing characters. Soil fertility status was analyzed by Hunter (1984) method. The collected data were analyzed statistically.

Source of Information: Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 53(4), 305-310, 2018

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Mulching induced significant enhancement on moisture contents and temperature as well as major nutrient status in soil which enhances plant growth and development of onion. Among the mulches, black polythene mulch performed the best for getting maximum bulb yield in onion. So, it can be suggested to use black polythene mulch for increased production of onion during winter season in Bangladesh.

Knowledge Management: Journal