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Effect of Irrigation and Duration of Mother Bulb Vernalization on the Growth, Yield and Quality of Onion Seed

M. R. Kabir
Wheat Research Centre, BARI, Nashipur, Dinajpur

A. M. Farooque
Professor
Dept. of Horticulture, BAU, Mymensingh.

M. A. Hakim
Wheat Research Centre, BARI, Nashipur, Dinajpur

Akbar Hossain
Wheat Research Centre, BARI, Nashipur, Dinajpur

R. Begum
Wheat Research Centre, BARI, Nashipur, Dinajpur

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

An experiment was conducted at the Horticultural Farm of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during October 2000 to April 2001 to determine the effects of irrigation and duration of mother bulb vernalization on the yield and quality of onion seed. These were four levels of irrigation (no irrigation, irrigation for 1, 2 and 3 times) and four levels of duration of vernalization (vernalization for 0, 7, 14 and 21 days). Bulbs of 20±0.5 g size of local cultivar Taherpuri were used as a planting material and were vernalized at a temperature of 10±10C. Yield and quality of onion seed were significantly influenced by the application of irrigation and duration of mother bulb vernalization independently. The highest length of flowering stalk, number of seeds per umbel, seed yield per umbel, seed yield per plant and seed yield per hectare were observed from the crop irrigated 3 times and mother bulbs of which were vernalized for 21 days. Irrigation for three times with 14 days vernalization produced the highest number of umbels per plant and showed the best germination percentage. The highest 1000 seed weight was recorded in the plants irrigated 2 times and vernalized for 21 days. In most cases, irrigation for 2 and 3 times; vernalization for 14 days and 21 days showed identical performance. Vernalization of mother bulbs enhanced flowering by 10 days.

Keywords: Onion, Irrigation, Vernalization, Seed

Location: Horticultural Farm of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

Start Date: 00-10-2000

End Date: 00-04-2001

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Water management, Onion

Objectives:

Proper vernalization temperature of mother bulb stimulates early flowering and produces heavier yield of seed (Jones and Mann, 1963). During the month of April and May, storm with heavy rainfall is a regular incidence in Bangladesh that affects the onion seed crop adversely and destroys the flower and flowering stalk to a great extent. Early flowering leading to early harvesting before the commencement of heavy rainfall could save the onion seed crop. Hence, vernalization of mother bulbs of our local cultivar might be a measure to ensure early flowering resulting in the production of early seed crop. Considering the above facts the experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of irrigation and duration of bulb vernalization on the yield and quality of onion seed.

Methodology:

The experiment was conducted at Horticultural Farm of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during October 2000 to April 2001. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications considering irrigation (No irrigation, irrigation for one, two and three times) in the main plot and duration of vernalization (No vernalization, vernalization for 7, 14 and 21 days) of mother bulb in the subplot. Unit plot size was 1m × 1 m. Selected bulbs of the same size (20±0.5g) of local cultivar Taherpuri were put in white cotton cloth bags and vernalized in a refrigerator calibrated at 10±1oC temperature. Vernalization was given for 21, 14 and 7 days to adjust different duration of vernalization as per treatment. The vernalization temperature was used according to Peters (1990). Bulbs were taken out of the refrigerator 4 hours prior to planting and then kept under fan for 3 hours for surface drying. Bulbs were planted on 15 November 2000. The plant spacing was 20 cm X 25 cm. Fertilizers were used as per recommendation. Polythene was lined around each main plot at a depth of 1 m to prevent the run-off and seepage of water from an irrigated plot to the nearby non-irrigated plot. The irrigation schedule commenced on 4 December, 2000 and applied at an interval of 20 days. Water was applied to the experimental plots up to make the soil saturated. Mulching, weeding, plant protection measure and staking were done as and when needed. The Mature bulbs were harvested when 10-20% capsules were splitted and exposed their black seeds (Pandey et al., 1992). The seed crop was harvested periodically from 27 March to 12 April, 2001. Harvested umbels were dried; seeds were harvested, cleaned and dried until they reached safe moisture content (Brewster, 1994). Seeds were then kept in polythene bag, which were kept in refrigerator at 8±1^oC. Seed germination test was conducted in the incubation room of Seed Pathology Laboratory, BAU-DANIDA, Mymensingh set at 23^oC and 70% RH (Brewster, 1994). It was performed following TP (Top of Paper) method and in sterile Petri dish. Data were collected on plant growth, yield contributing traits, yield and seed quality traits. Data were statistically analyzed. The mean separation was done by LSD test.

Source of Information: J. Sci. Technol. (Dinajpur) Vol. 6:136-141 (2008) ISSN 1994-0386

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The interaction effect of irrigation and vernalization of mother bulb was not significant except seed yield plant-1 , plot-1 and ha-1 . Maximum seed weight was obtained from the plants having treatment combination of 3 times irrigation with 21 days vernalization of mother bulb. The highest value was identically followed by treatment combination of 2 times irrigation with 14 days or 21 days cold treatment and 3 times irrigation with 14 days cold treatment of mother bulb. The minimum seed weight plant-1 was found in the plants having the treatment combination of no irrigation and no vernalization and it was followed by the treatment combination of no irrigation with 7 days vernalization. Similar trend was also observed in case of seed yield per plot and per hectare. A range of variation of seed yields from 361.30 to 1008.83 kg ha-1 was observed due to the interaction effect. Maximum seed yield was found from 3 times irrigation and 21 days vernalization treatment combination and lowest seed yield was recorded from no irrigation and no vernalization treatment and this was different from the seed yield of all other treatment combinations. Onion cultivar Taherpuri was the best yielder of seed, which responds well to irrigation. Irrigation was in general helpful to get good yield and high-quality seed. Discontinuing irrigation at milk stage gave high yield of good quality seeds with economy of labour and water. Early flowering shortens the life cycle of onion. Because of early flowering onion plants are exposed to different adverse condition (High temperature, disease incidence, early rainfall etc.) for a short period than the non-vernalized plants. This might have contributed to obtain higher seed yield due to longer vernalization.

Knowledge Management: Journal