EFFECT OF BORON AND SULPHUR ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF ONION

Abstract

A field investigation was carried out at the Horticulture Farm, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, Bangladesh from November 2006 to April 2007 to study the effect of boron (B) and sulphur (S) on the growth and yield of onion cv. Taherpuri. The treatments consisted of four levels of boron (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 kg/ha) and sulphur (0, 15, 30 and 60 kg/ha) each, thereby making sixteen treatment combinationsl. The two factor experiment was laid out in the Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Full doses of boron and sulphur were applied in the form of boric acid and gypsum, respectively. Most of the yield contributing characteristics and yield were significantly influenced by the different levels of boron and sulphur. Boron @ 1.0 kg/ha gave the highest (13.19 t/ha) yield of bulb and the lowest yield of bulb (8.49 t/ha) was obtained from the control. Sulphur was found to increase the bulb yield by increasing plant height, number of leaves per plant, fresh and dry weight of bulb, and bulb diameter. The maximum yield of bulb yield (12.24 t/ha) was obtained from 30 kg sulphur/ha and the minimum yield of bulb (9.94 t/ha) was recorded in the control. The combined effect of boron and sulphur was statistically significant for growth and yield of onion. The highest bulb yield (15.38 t/ha), the maximum gross income (Tk. 184560/ha) and the maximum net return (Tk. 112530/ha) were obtained from combination of 1.0 kg boron and 30 kg sulphur/ha. The lowest bulb yield (7.20 t/ha), the minimum gross income (Tk. 86400/ha) and the lowest net return (Tk. 16554/ha) were recorded in the control. Boron was more effective in combination with sulphur in increasing the yield. Results of this EXpetigneat showed that application of 1.0 kg boron and 30 kg sulphur per hectare Were economic for onion bulb production.