Effect of Zinc and Boron on Growth, Yield and Quality of Onion (Allium cepa L.) cv. Agrifound Dark Red

Studies on effect of zinc and boron on growth, yield and quality of onion cv. Agrifound Dark Red was carried out with nine treatment (zinc viz., 0, 25 and 50 kg/ha and boron viz., 0, 2.5 and 5 kg/ha) combinations. Results were significant in most of the parameters. The highest plant height (57.47 cm), number of leaves (12.37), neck thickness (1.68 cm), bulb diameter (6.83 cm), bulb weight (110.80 g), yield plot-1 (5.32 kg), yield hectare-1 (236.59 q), dry weight of bulb (14.30 g), total soluble solids (TSS) (13.98%), Zn content in leaves (41.27 ppm) and bulbs (55.33 ppm), B content in leaves (13.87 ppm) and bulbs (14.43 ppm), N (1.49%), P (0.58%) and K (1.77%) content in leaves and N (1.60%), P (0.47%) and K (1.85%) content in bulbs were maximum in treatment combination of Zn 25 kg + B 5 kg ha-1, while treatment combination of Zn 50 kg + B 5 kg ha-1 showed maximum sulphur content in leaves (2196.7 ppm) and bulbs (2344 ppm). The results clearly indicated that soil application of Zn 25 kg + B 5 kg ha-1 significantly improved the growth, yield and quality of onion compared to other treatment combinations and control and also found economically best with benefit cost ratio 1: 4.3.