Efficacy of Foliar Application of Micronutrients on Production of Onion Seed [Allium cepa L.] cv. Red Creol in Rukum West, Nepal

Abstract

Field research was commenced in Rukum West on a standing crop of onion during the flowering stage to assess the effectiveness of foliar sprays of micronutrients on the yield of onion seeds (Allium cepa L.) cv. Red Creol. The experiment was carried out using two levels of Zinc (300 ppm and 375 ppm) and two levels of Boron (240 ppm and 360 ppm) in an RCBD design with treatments applied either separately or in combinations, comprising nine treatments and three replications. The treatments were administered before flowering, during flowering, and after flowering at the seed production stage at 15 days intervals. The application of Zinc and Boron increased total seed yield, seed yield per umbel, seed yield per plant, and germination percentage. The highest seed yield per plant, seed yield per umbel, and seed yield per plot were recorded from Treatment 8 (Zn 375ppm + B 360ppm) i.e.  52.8 gm per plant, 6.12 gm per umbel, and 966.67 kg ha^-1 respectively. Similarly, Treatment 1 (Zn300ppm) and Treatment 8 (Zn 375ppm + B 360ppm) showed the highest germination percentage (70%), and Treatment 9 (control) showed the lowest (45%). The treatments did not affect the thousand seed weight.