Abstract

Background: Onion (Allium cepa L.) is a vital vegetable crop in India, significantly contributing to domestic consumption and exports. Sustainable agricultural practices, incorporating organic manures and bio-stimulants can enhance crop productivity, soil and environmental health and economic returns. Aim: The aim of the investigation was to evaluate the impact of different types of organic manures and bio-stimulants on onion growth, yield, quality and soil health under organic cultivation. Objectives: 1. To study the effect of different nutrient sources on growth, yield and quality of onion. 2. To find out the soil qualities under different organic nutrient sources. 3. To work out the comparative economics of organic onion cultivation. Material: The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with three replications during the winter season of 2021–2022 at UBKV, West Bengal. Three levels of organic manures (farmyard manure, vermicompost, poultry manure) and five bio-stimulants (seaweed extract, humic acid, vermiwash, jeevamrutha, and liquid mustard cake) were evaluated for different growth parameters, yield attributes, soil properties and economic return. Result: The results showed that enriched farmyard manure (20 t/ha) significantly improved plant growth, bulb yield (21.71 t/ha) as well as quality attributes such as dry matter, TSS and ascorbic acid content. Among bio stimulants, foliar application of seaweed extract (0.3%) resulted in the highest yield (21.53 t/ha) and enhanced soil properties. The combination of enriched farmyard manure and seaweed extract recorded the highest bulb yield (24.36 t/ha) and economic return (B:C ratio of 2.72). Conclusion: The integration of enriched farmyard manure (20 t/ha), combined with bio-stimulants like seaweed extract (0.3%), significantly enhanced onion growth, yield, quality and economic returns, making organic onion cultivation a viable and sustainable alternative to conventional farming. Organic amendments contribute to better nutrient availability, improved plant vigour, and reduced dependency on synthetic fertilizers.

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