Effect of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Growth and Yield of Two Onion Cultivars (Allium cepa L.) grown in Bauchi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Experiment was conducted at the Tatari Ali farm in Azare, Bauchi State Nigeria. To determine the effect of organic and inorganic fertlizers  on the growth and yield of Onion. The recommended rates of poultry manure (10 t ha^-1), cow dung (10 t ha^-1), NPK (400 kg ha¹), and  Urea (200 kg N ha^-1) were used as treatments with a control (0 kg ha^-1). These were arranged in a randomized complete block design  with three replications. The data collected was analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and significant means separated by GenStat  at 5% probability level. The results revealed that all the treatments significantly (P<0.05) improved the growth and yield parameters of  onion. NPK produced significant higher number of leaves (10.85a), Urea (9.52b) poultry manure (9.34b) cow dung (9.25b) and control 0 kg  ha^-1 (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 significantly 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.