Effect of Different Varieties  and Planting Time on Kharif Onion Production in Lower Shivalik Hills of Himachal Pradesh.

Deepa Sharma, Kumud Jarial

Dr.Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry College of Horticulture and Forestry, Neri, Hamirpur, HP

Corresponding author Email:  deepabanyal@gmail.com

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CARJ.5.1.09

Abstract:

An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of varieties and planting time on kharif onion production under low hill conditions of Himachal Pradesh at Research Farm of the Institute of Biotechnology and Environmental Science (Dr. Y.S. Parmar, University of Horticulture and Forestry), Neri, Hamirpur for two consecutive seasons (2011 & 2012). The farm is located at an altitude of 620 m above mean sea level with average mean maximum and minimum temperature levels of 31.3⁰ C and 12.4⁰ C, respectively and is a representative site of low hill region of Himachal Pradesh.  Four cultivars of onion viz. N-53, Nasik Red, Agrifound Dark Red (AFDR) and Agrifound Light Red (AFLR) were transplanted on six dates at ten days interval  starting from 5^th July to 25^th August. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with three replications for each treatment. Healthy seedlings were transplanted on raised beds at a spacing of 15 x 10 cm in plots of 3.0 x 3.0 m². Recommended cultural practices were followed during investigation to raise the crop successfully.  All the observations pertaining to traits viz. plant height (cm), neck thickness (cm),  bulb diameter (cm), bulb weight (g), days for harvesting, and yield (q/ha)  were taken by randomly selecting twenty healthy plants  from each plot. Standard package and practices were followed for raising the crop as per the recommendations of the University. The maximum bulb diameter (5.50 cm was  ()ng to bulb diameter showed that all the variables had significant effect on bulb diameter. the ing 2011 ) and highest bulb weight(64.37 g)  among cultivars was noticed in cultivar Agrifound Dark Red. There was a significant effect of  both by varieties and transplanting dates. The highest average yield (229.03 q/ha) was observed in cultivar AFDR. The highest bulb yield (197.54 q/ha) among transplanting dates was noted on third transplanting date D₃ (25^th July). Therefore it can be summarized that cultivar Agrifound Dark Red is the best suited cultivar for kharif onion production in lower Shivalik hills of Himachal Pradesh and it should be transplanted around 25^th July for maximization of bulb yield.

Keywords:

Kharif onion; Varieties; Transplanting dates; Yield; Bulb

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