EFFECT OF ORGANIC AND INORGANIC FERTILIZERS ON PHYSIOLOGICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF SOME CULTIVARS ONION (Allium Cepa L.) GROWN IN BAUCHI STATE

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at the Tatari Ali farm in Azare, Bauchi State Nigeria to determine the effect of poultry manure, cow dung, NPK (15:15:15) and Urea on the growth and yield of Onion. The recommended rates of poultry manure (10 t/ha) cow dung (10 t/ha) NPK (400 kg/ha) and Urea (200 kg N/ha) were used as treatments with a control (0 kg/ha). These were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Measurements were taken on the growth and yield parameters and data collected were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and signifcant means separated by GenStat at 5% probability level. The results revealed that all the treatments signifcantly (P<0.05) improved the growth and yield parameters of onion. NPK, produced signifcantly higher number of leaves (10.85a), followed by Urea (9.52b) poultry manure (9.34b) then cow dung (9.25b) and control 0kg/ha (8.04c). The highest bulb diameter was recorded with poultry manure (6.16 cm) and Bulb length was recorded with NPK (6.84a cm) and fresh bulb weight was signifcantly higher in poultry manure, and cow dung applications. The onion bulb yield is in order of poultry > cow dung > NPK > Urea > control. It is concluded that poultry manure application is better for the production of onion. The rate of photosynthesis was significally higher in Urea (14.27a) and NPK (13.19a). The chlorophyll estimation was significantly higher with treatment of NPK (0.0040a) and Urea (0.0035b) was recorded. Among the cultivars ‘kwadon local’ had the highest number of leaves (9.72) followed by ‘Agrifound’ (9.09) the bulb diameter was significantly higher with ‘kwadon local’ (5.63). Bulb weight (30.17) found with ‘kwadon local’. And Rate of photosynthesis was significally higher in ‘kwadon local’ (12.35) and chlorophyll estimation was found in to be higher in ‘Agrifound’ (0.0030) for optimum production of onion. ‘Kwadon local’ cultivar is recommended to farmers during rainy.