Performance of Two Onion (Allium cepa L.) Cultivars under Two Different Planting Systems in Calcareous Soil

Abstract

Onion is one of the most valuable vegetables all over the world. It prefers loose, well drained loamy soils rich in organic matter. In calcareous soils, the growth and yield of onion crop is low. The objective of the present investigation was to study the performance of two onion cultivars (Super Selection and Nasarpuri) in calcareous soil by adopting proper planting system. The crop was planted under two planting systems i.e. flat bed and ridge system. Significantly higher leaf weight was recorded on ridges than flat beds. Root weight was significantly higher in cultivar Nasarpuri than Super Selection. Moreover, plants on ridges attained more root weight than those grown on flat beds. Larger equatorial and polar diameters of bulbs were recorded in Super Selection, and also in the plants grown on ridges. The bulbs harvested from ridges had higher moisture content, than those harvested from flat beds. The neck diameter was significantly greater in Nasarpuri as compared with Super Selection. Number of splited bulbs and number of splits in bulbs were not affected by the cultivars and planting systems. The highest bulb weight was recorded from ridges in cv. Nasarpuri, followed by Super Selection. The significantly greater economic yield, biological yield and harvest index were obtained from the plants grown on ridges. Leaf weight showed significant association with neck diameter, bulb weight, economic yield and biological yield. Bulb weight showed significant correlation with economic yield, biological yield and harvest index.