Expression of quantitative and qualitative traits in post kharif onion (Allium cepa L.) grown using non-chemical amendments in Eastern Indian Plateau

A field trial comprising five onion varieties and three non-chemical nutrient sources was conducted at the organic experimental farm of RKMVERI, Ranchi, during post-kharif season. The experiment was conducted for two consecutive years (2022-23 and 2023-24) and was designed using a FRBD spread across 45 experimental plots [five varieties, viz., V1(Sukh Sagar), V2(Agrifound Dark Red), V3(N-53), V4(Pusa Sona), & V5(Pusa Riddhi); and three treatments, namely, T1 (NCSN-1), T2 (NCSN-2), & T3 (NCSN-3) with three replications each]. Several growth, yield, and quality attributes were considered for evaluation. Results showed that growth and yield attributes of five onion varieties were significantly influenced by T1, where Jeevamrutha was used as non-chemical amendment, but the quality-contributing traits were greatly influenced by T2, where a biodynamic formulation (BD-501) was applied as foliar feeding. Findings also revealed that Agrifound Dark Red, N-53, and Sukh Sagar are the best- performing post-kharif onion varieties for the eastern Indian plateau.