Seed Encrustation Novel Technique for Improving Growth Performance in Onion (Allium Cepa L.) Cv. Pusa Red

APSTRACT Seed encrustation is one of the important seed quality enhancement techniques adopted in small seeded crops to overcome the problem of slow, asynchronous and poor seedling establishment.An experiment was carried out to analyze the effect of three encrustation treatments and transplanting compared to control (no treatment and direct seed sowing).The treatment T4 (Encrusted 1:1.2 buildup with Thiram and Mycorrhiza for direct seeding) showed higher field emergence at 15 DAS and plant stand @ 45 DAS (51.0 % and 71.99 %, respectively), bulb weight (122.92g) and bulb yield (30.87 kg/plot) followed by transplanting, which recorded field emergence at 15 DAS and plant stand @ 45 DAS (49.0 % and 69.16 %, respectively), bulb weight (118.10 g) and bulb yield (29.66 kg/plot).The lowest values of field emergence at 15 DAS and plant stand @ 45 DAS (38.65 % and 54.55 %), bulb weight (93.15 g) and bulb yield (23.40 kg/plot) were observed in control (no treatment and direct seed sowing).Hence, the treatment encrusting 1:1.2 build up with thiram and Mycorrhiza and transplanting showed better performance than control in onion.