Onion (Allium cepa) Production as affected by Organic manure and Variety at Makurdi, Benue state, Nigeria.
The experiment aimed to evaluate the effect of organic manure and variety on the growth and yield of onion (Allium cepa) grown in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. The experiment is laid in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments used are organic manure sources (Poultry dropping, goat manure, and control), and varieties used where (Bombay red and Red creole), and the spacing of 50cm by 20cm was adopted for the experiment. During the investigation, some physiological variables, such as growth, plant height, and the number of leaves were measured. Other characteristics like Days to maturity, Leaf length, Bulb diameter, Bulb fresh weight, and overall yield were also recorded. The results of the investigation revealed that onion (Allium cepa) generally responded to nutrient sources. All the parameter studies have significantly (P ≤ 0.05) responded to the nutrient source with poultry dropping been superior in both growth and yield-related character such, as plant height (44.34), the number of leaves (7.74), Days to maturity (117.23), Leaf length (21.23), Bulb diameter (5.46), Bulb fresh weight (44.19) and overall yield (7.00) On verities Bombay red outperformed Red creole in both growth, yield, and yield-related characters such as plant height (42.27), the number of leaves (7.01), Days to maturity (110.51), Leaf length (20.44), Bulb diameter (5.93), Bulb fresh weight (43.12) and overall yield (7.23). Based on the results obtained from the research, it can be suggested that the use of poultry dropping which is better in both growth and yield parameters, and the use of Bombay red variety will lead to optimum yield in onion cultivation in the study areas.
Keywords: Onion, Variety, Organic manure and Yield.
