Effects of zinc, dates, and cultivars on onion (Allium cepa) performance

Abstract

At Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University's horticulture farm in Jobner, Jaipur, Rajasthan, an experiment
was carried out during the winter (rabi) seasons of 2020–21 and 2021–22 to ascertain the impact of
transplanting date, cultivar, and zinc application method on onion (Allium cepa L.) growth, yield, and quality.
The split-plot design of the experiment was used, and it was repeated three times. Two transplanting dates—
December 10 and January 1—as well as three cultivars—RO-01, RO-59, and Bhima Shakti—were maintained
in the main plot. Four zinc application techniques—control, soil application of ZnSO4 @25 kg/ha, dipping
onion seedlings in zinc solubilizer solution prior to transplanting, and foliage spraying of ZnSO4 @0.5% at 30
and 45 days after transplanting—were maintained in the sub-plots. Plant growth, bulb output (416.8, 358.0, and
387.4 q/ha), and onion quality were all significantly greater on January 1st, the transplanting date. Bhima Shakti
had much greater plant growth, bulb production (417.5, 358.4, and 388.0 q/ha), and onion quality than the other
cultivars, yet these metrics were comparable to RO-59. In zinc application techniques, foliar treatment of
ZnSO4 @0.5% resulted in considerably increased plant growth, bulb production (41.5, 35.8, and 38.7 t/ha), and
onion quality; nevertheless, these were found to be comparable with soil application of ZnSO4. The
transplanting of the Bhima Shakti cultivar on January 1st and the foliar spraying of ZnSO4 at a rate of 0.5%
were shown to have the potential to improve onion performance.