Author(s):

TK Behera, J Mandal, S Mohanta, AK Padhiary, S Behera, D Behera and RK Rout

Abstract: The experiment was conducted at the Horticulture Farm of Institute of Agriculture, Sriniketan. Twenty four short day onion cultivars were assessed in randomized block design with three replications. The observations on various traits were recorded from ten randomly selected competitive plants in each treatment and replication. Data recorded on plant height, number of leaves, leaf length, leaf diameter and neck diameter in three occasions (30, 60 and 90 days after transplanting). Bulb polar diameter, equatorial diameter, bulb weight, no of rings, TSS, total sugar and reducing sugar was taken after harvesting of bulb. Bulb yield per hectare was computed from the yield obtained per plot. Thus, the top performing varieties were found Bhima Shakti, Kadam (F₁), N-53, Indam Gulab, Bhima Shweta and Sukhsagar. It may be assumed that Sukhsagar has well adaptability in entire West Bengal and thus performed well. Other five identified varieties, excluding Sukhsagar, were also equally good. Among them Kadam (F₁) and Indam Gulab were from private seed companies. Farmers may not have easy access to the seed material. Again, as these varieties are F1 hybrid, farmers would not be able to multiply the seeds of their own. Thus, rest three cultivars, N- 53, Bhima Shweta and Bhima Shakti may be the other option to the onion growers of this region. However, N- 53 is a Kharif season cultivar. Again, it is an old cultivar and in many areas it was replaced by new varieties. Finally, Bhima Shakti and Bhima Shweta with their production level of 24.21 and 21.23 t ha^-1 respectively. Onion cultivars Bhima Shakti and Bhima Shweta along with Sukhsagar may be suggested to the onion grower of Red and Laterite Zone of West Bengal during rabi season for higher productivity.

Pages: 493-497  |  2016 Views  641 Downloads

Download (511KB)