DETERMINING THE ZINC REQUIREMENT OF ONION BY SEED ANALYSIS |
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| Authors: | E Rafique M Mahmood-ul-Hassan M Ishaq K M Khokhar |
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| Institution: | 1. Land Resources Research Institute , National Agricultural Research Centre , Islamabad, Pakistan;2. Horticultural Research Institute , National Agricultural Research Centre , Islamabad, Pakistan |
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| Abstract: | Our study analyzed the effect of foliar tissues and seed tissue for determining the micronutrient status of a crop. Zinc (Zn) requirements of onion (Allium cepa L.) leaves and seeds were estimated from yield response curves based on field experiment conducted on a Zn-deficient calcareous soil. Three onion cultivars, i.e., ‘Swat-1’, ‘Phulkara’, and ‘Sariab Red’ were grown by applying 0, 2, 4, 8, and 16 kg Zn ha?1. Zinc application significantly increased seed yield of all the three cultivars of onion. The order of seed yield response to Zn fertilization was: ‘Swat-1’ < ‘Phulkara’ < ‘Sariab Red’. Fertilizer Zn requirement for near-maximum seed yield was 2 kg Zn ha?1. Zinc concentration in mature onion seed also appeared to be a good indicator of soil Zn availability status. Critical Zn concentration in seed was 18 mg Zn kg?1, and in matured leaves was 21 mg kg?1. |
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| Keywords: | Allium cepa L atomic absorption spectrophotometry calcareous soils micronutrient requirement plant analysis |
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