EFFECT OF N AND K ON THE YIELD OF ONION

Abstract

A fleld experiment was conducted at the Sher-c-I3angla Agricultural University Farm. Dhaka-1207 during the Rahi season of 2006-2007 to evaluate the effect of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) fertilizers levels on the yield of onion. The research was carried out with four levels of nitrogen viz 0.60. 120 and 180 kg N ha1 and three levels of potassium viz; 0, 60 and 120 kg K2 0 ha' Data were recorded on yield and yield components. The results of the experiment revealed that most of the parameters varied significantly with different levels of nitrogen but not with potassium. Single application of N had significant influence on bulb yield. The highest bulb yield (8.53 ton hi') was obtained when plants were grown with nitrogen at 120 kg ha4, but higher levels of N did not show any significant increase in yield of onion. The lowest yield (6.70 ton hi') was recorded in the control treatments. Application of potassium at 60 kg K2 O ha' produced the highest bulb yield (7.77 ton ha d ) which was statistically identical with that of 0 or 120 kg K 20 ha1 The effect of interaction between nitrogen and potassium was statistically significant. The combination of 120 kg N and 60 kg K2 0 ha' gave the highest bulb yield (9.40 ton haj. On overall considerations, 120 kg N and 60 kg K2 0 hi' were considered as optimum dose for the yield of onion under the experimental conditions.