Effect of Various Nursery Media on Onion Seedlings Development

A field experiment was conducted to standardize the nursery raising technique for onion at the Horticulture Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, Allahabad Agricultural Institute-Deemed University, Allahabad, during 2005-2006. The treatments comprised combinations of soil, sand, FYM and vermicompost. Altogether, 14 treatments were applied in a randomized block design with three replications. Hundred percent germination was found with a combination of soil, sand and FYM in proportions of 2:1:2&2:2:1, and, 1:1:1&2:2:1 Soil:Sand:Vermicompost. Among all the treatments, the combination of soil 2 parts, sand 1 part and FYM 2 parts, significantly influenced growth and health of seedlings and produced the maximum seedling height (11.42 cm), stem diameter (0.33 cm), ischolar_main length (10.86 cm), shoot fresh weight (6.96 g), ischolar_main fresh weight (3.22 g), total seedling fresh weight (10.18 g), shoot dry weight (3.95 g), ischolar_main dry weight (1.53 g) and total seedling dry weight (5.48g). Highest benefit:cost ratio of 3.72 was also seen in this treatment combination.