Influence of seedling age and transplanting time on the productivity of onion

Abstract

Abstract : An experiment was carried out at the Regional Agricultural Research Station, Rahmatpur, Barisal during the Rabi season of 1997-98 to find out the suitable age of seedling and optimum time of transplanting for maximizing yield and profitability of onion cv. Taherpuri in the southern region of Bangladesh. It was observed that the age of seedling and time of transplanting had pronounced effect on bulb yield of onion. The highest yield of bulb (11.65 t/ha) was produced by 60 days old seedlings. Transplanting of onion seedling on November 30 gave the highest (10.85 t/ha) which was statistically similar with transplanting on 10 December (10.66 t/ha). Transplanting on 20 December gave the worst yield (8.75 t/ha). Seedling age and transplanting time interacted significantly for all the characters studied. The highest yield (13.20 t/ha) was recorded from 60 days old seedlings transplanted on 30 November. Similar yield (12.93 t/ha) was obtained by transplanting 60 days seedlings transplanted on 10 December. Total variable cost was higher for production of onion form 70 days old seedlings (Tk. 41595.00/ha) due to higher cost of seedlings (Tk. 15341.00/ha). Other costs were equal for all the treatments. Considering Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR), the highest value (2.98) was obtained from 60 days old seedlings followed by 50 days old seedlings (2.93). Whereas 70 days old seedlings gave the lowest BCR value (1.88).