Effect of date of planting and varieties on growth, yield and storability of rabi onion (Allium cepa L)

Abstract

Onion varieties were evaluated with different date of planting (15th Dec, 30th Dec, 15th January & 30th January) for adoptability to the climatic conditions of Bihar. Seedlings of two varieties of onion were planted under factorial randomized block design with three replications at research farm of Nalanda College of Horticulture, Noorsarai, Nalanda (Bihar). The quantitative data on yield and other morphological characters of onion were collected. Both the varieties were harvested at their maturity (80% top down) and then graded, weighted into two categories of bulb; marketable weight and total weight. Inferential and descriptive statistical methods were used for data analysis where by two ways analysis of variance and ranking scale were applied. It was concluded that all the two varieties namely Agrifound light red and Patna red performed differently to the total yield, marketable yield. Onion variety ALR produced the highest marketable yield i.e. 220.489 q/ha coupled with 30th December date of planting. So the farmers can be motivated for adoption of ALR with most suitable planting date i.e. 30th December for commercial production.