Abstract

An experiment was conducted at Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) Mardan Station, during winter 2010-2011 to investigate the "Humic acids affect the bulb production of onion cultivars". The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with split plot arrangement having three replications. Humic levels (0, 1, 2 and 3 kg ha^-1) were allotted to main plots, while cultivars (Swat-1, NARC and Parachinar Local) were subjected to sub plots. Full dose of phosphorous (90 kg ha^-1), potash (60 kg ha^-1) and half dose of nitrogen (60 kg ha^-1) were applied before transplanting while the remaining half dose of nitrogen (60 kg ha^-1) was applied after 25 days of interval. The growth and yield parameters of onion cultivars were significantly influenced by various levels of humic, as cultivar Parachinar Local showed more neck height (7.5 cm), plant height (80.9 cm), bulb weight (94.2 g), yield plot^-1 (22.9 kg) and total yield ha^-1 (36.1 tons) whereas 2 kg ha^-1 of humic significantly increased neck height (7.6 cm), plant height (75.3 cm), bulb weight (96.4 g), yield plot^-1 (22.4 kg) and total yield ha^-1 (35.86 tons), a non significant response was recorded for survival percentage. In interaction of onion cultivars × humic level indicated that Parachinar Local, fertilized with 2 kg ha^-1 humic showed best performance for most of the growth and yield parameters. It is concluded that onion cultivar Parachinar Local and application of humic at 2 kg ha^-1 resulted in higher growth and yield for onion.

Key words: Humic acid, growth parameters, yield, onion cultivars.