Effect of irrigation scheduling and fertigation on storability of onion (Alliunt cepa) under microsprinkler irrigation regime

Abstract

The experiment was carried out for 2 consecutive years (2002-2003) in a semi-arid cllmate to study the effect of variable irrigation and fertigation on storage behavior of onion (Alliurn cepa L.) On the basis of irrigation water applied (IW) and cumulative pan evaporation (CPE) ratio, crop was subjected to 4 levels of irrigation where IWICPE ratio varied from 0.60 to 1.20 at 0.20 interval. In each irrigation, 10.80 mm water was applied. By varying the cumulative pan evaporation,the desired irrigation level was maintained. Three fertigation options ofNPK, viz F, (100:50:50 kg'ha), F, (75:37:5:37.5 kg/ha) and F, (50:25:25 kg/ha) were studied. The field cured onion bulbs were stored in 2 conditions, i e on-cemented floor in loose and kept on wooden stack above the ground in gunny bags. Irrigation and fertigation levels significantly influenced physiological lossin weight (%) (data) and sprouting percentage (data). The bulb grown under low soil moisture regime resultcd in higher physiological loss in weight (%) and sprouting. The maximum sprouting percentage (25.49%) was recordcd under irrigation regime of I, when bulb stored on cemented floor in loose whereas sprouting was highest (12.76%) under the irrigation regime of I4, when bulb stored in gunny bags. The higher sprouting as well as physiological loss in weight was found in fertigation level F, in which maximum nutrients were applied amongst all fertigation treatment.