Effect of plant spacing on growth and yield of two varieties of onion (Allium cepa L.) under the agro-climatic condition of D. I. Khan.

A field experiment was carried out to study the effect of plant spacing on the growth and yield of two cultivars of onion, under the agro-climatic conditions of Dera Ismail Khan. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with two cultivars in main plots and plant spacing in sub- plots. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of Naurang local and Phulkara cultivars with respect to different plant spacing (10, 15, 20 and 25 cm). The data on number of leaves/ plant, plant height, leaf length, bulb weight, bulb diameter, bulb yield/ plot and total yield t/ha were recorded. Significant variations were recorded for two onion cultivars and different plant spacing for all the parameters studied. Phulkara excelled in all the parameters against Naurang Local as it produced maximum leaves per plant (9.63), plant height (52.98 cm), leaf length (46.32 cm), bulb weight (56.40 g), bulb diameter (5.25 cm), bulb yield per plot ( 2.89 kg) and total yield (10.78 t/ha). Among plant spacing, although, the widest plant spacing (25 cm) produced the maximum leaves per plant, plant height, bulb weight and bulb diameter but it reduced the yield per plot and total yield. However, closest plant spacing (10 cm) produced significantly maximum yield per plot and total yield. For better yield of onion, Phulkara cultivar with closet plant spacing of 10 cm is highly recommended for D.I.Khan conditions.