Journal of Crop and Weed, 12(1):112-115(2016)

Effect of different herbicides on growth and yield of onion (Allium cepa L.)
N. CHATTOPADHYAY, S. MAHALANABISH, J. K. HORE AND 1T. K. MAITY
Department of Spices and Plantation Crops, 1 Department of Vegetable Crops,
Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur-741252, Nadia, West Bengal
Received: 07-08-2015, Revised: 02-12-2015, Accepted: 25-12-2015
ABSTRACT
The experiment was carried out at ‘C’ Block Farm of BCKV, Nadia,West Bengal, India for two consecutive years
to study the efficacy of some herbicides on growth and yield of onion cv. Sukhsagar. Eight treatments were included.
The experiment was laid out in RBD with 3 replications. The treatments were: T1- Oxyfluorfen 23.5% EC as pre-
planting and at 30 DAT, T2- Oxyfluorfen 23.5% EC as pre-planting + Quizalofop Ethyl 5% EC at 30 DAT, T3-
Oxyfluorfen 23.5% EC + Quizalofop Ethyl 5% EC at planting and at 30 DAT, T4- Pendimethalin 30% EC as pre-
planting and at 30 DAT,T5- Pendimethalin 30% EC as pre-planting + Quizalofop Ethyl 5% EC at 30 DAT,T6-
Pendimethalin 30% EC + Quizalofop Ethyl 5% EC at planting and at 30 DAT, T7- Oxyfluorfen 23.5% EC as pre-
planting + hand weeding at 30 DAT and T8- Weedy check. The results revealed that application of pendimethalin
(T4) recorded maximum plant height (59.42cm), leaf number (7.17), bulb weight (76.06g), marketable yield
(22.95t ha-1) as compared to minimum values of 50.08, 5.33, 54.44g and 13.81 t ha-1 under weedy check plots.
The total dry weight of weeds was lowest (10.94g m-2) under T7 treatment followed by T4 (16.66 g m-2) and T5
(19.51 g m-2). The same trend was also noticed in case of weed control efficiency i.e., maximum value (90.21%) in
T7 followed by T4 (85.12%) and T5 (82.44%). The highest additional benefit (Rs. 45750.00 per ha) over control
was recorded in T4 treatment. The pendimethalin may be recommended as most effective herbicide for onion
cultivation under alluvial zone of West Bengal.
Keywords: Growth, onion, pendimethalin, quizalofop ethyl, weed and yield
Onion (Allium cepa L.) is cultivated throughout The soil of the experimental site was new alluvial, sandy
the country in an area of 756.2 thousand hectares clay loam in texture, having good water holding capacity
producing 12158.8 thousand metric tonnes bulbs for and soil pH of 7.8.The experiment was laid out in RBD
local consumption as well as for export purposes. with 3 replications. The treatments were T1- Oxyfluorfen
Maharashtra is the leading state with 200 thousand 23.5%EC as pre-planting and at 30 DAT, T 2 -
hectares area and 3146 thousand metric tonnes Oxyfluorfen 23.5%EC as pre-planting + Quizalofop
production followed by Karnataka. In West Bengal Ethyl 5%EC at 30 DAT, T3- Oxyfluorfen 23.5%EC +
onion is cultivated in an area of 21 thousand hectares, Quizalofop Ethyl 5% EC at planting and at 30 DAT, T4-
producing about 290 thousand metric tonnes of bulbs Pendimethalin 30%EC as pre-planting and at 30
(Anon., 2010). Weeds in onion are a global problem DAT,T5- Pendimethalin 30%EC as pre-planting +
and loss due to weeds was as high as 70-75% (Mani Quizalofop Ethyl 5%EC at 30 DAT,T6- Pendimethalin
and Gautam, 1976). Onion is slow to emerge after 30% EC + Quizalofop Ethyl 5%EC at planting and at
planting and slow to grow after emergence. Weeds on 30 DAT, T7- Oxyfluorfen 23.5%EC as pre-planting +
the other hand often emerge early and grow quickly, Hand weeding at 30 DAT, T8- Weedy check. The
compete with the crop for inputs, results in reduction in seedlings were transplanted during middle of December
yield. The close spacing of onion, create problem at 15×10 cm spacing in 3 × 2m plots. The crop was
mechanical weeding. The present investigation was fertilized with NPK @ 125:60:100 kg ha-1 and harvested
undertaken to study the efficacy of herbicides integrated during end of March in both the years. The required
with manual weeding on yield and yield attributing amount of fertilizer for 144 sq m area was 4 kg Urea,
characters of onion. 5.4 kg Single Super Phosphate and 2.4 kg Muriate of
Potash . Urea was applied in 3 equal splits i.e. 1.33 kg
MATERIALS AND METHODS first as basal and second and third at 21 and 42 DAT.
The experiment was conducted at the Kalyani The phosphatic and potasic fertilizer were applied dose.
‘C’Block Farm, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Healthy and disease free seedlings of seven weeks old
Nadia, West Bengal, India for two consecutive years were transplanted. Harvesting of bulb was done at
2009-10 and 2010-2011with onion variety Sukhsagar. mature stage. Maturity was indicated by toppling of the

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 Chattopadhyay et al.

tops (50-70% neck fall) and drying of leaves. Irrigation Khurana et al. (1985), Sandhu et al. (1987), Mohamed
was stopped 15 days before harvesting. The (1988) and Al Kothayari and Hassan (1990). Highest
observations on weed population count, dry matter of weed control efficiency was found in T7 (90.21 %). This
weeds, weed control efficiency were recorded at 60 DAT is because this treatment showed lowest weed population
and vegetative parameters in onion like plant height, due to combination of hand weeding along with
number of leaves, diameter of bulb, as well as fresh and herbicide application. Similarly ,Yumnam et al. (2009)
dry weight of bulb, yield per plot and TSS of onion at reported that in onion hand weeding at 40 days after
harvest were recorded. Data were analyzed statistically transplanting along with application of quizalofop-ethyl
by following the method of Panse and Sukhatme (1989). 5%EC @ 2.5ml L 1 of water at 20 DAP significantly
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION reduced weed density (25.5) and dry weight (55.3g) of
weed compared to other treatments . The treatment T4
The data presented in table 1, showed the significant was the second best with a weed control efficiency of
variations among different treatments. In case of 85.12% followed by T 5 (82.44 %). Weed control
monocot, that T4 was found most effective in controlling efficiency was lowest in T6 (49.71). The integrated
the population (13.33 m-2), followed by T7 (14.67 m-2) treatment of oxyflourfen and HW at 30 DAT (T7)
and T5 (15.67 m-2). Population of weeds was fairly high recorded significantly lower weed population and dry
in T6 (46.00 m-2) followed by T2 (37.50 m-2) but much weight than the control. This may be attributed to initial
less than the control (65.50 m-2). In case of dicot weeds, checking of weed growth by oxyflourfen and HW at 30
T7 was most effective in controlling its population (2.5 DAT. These results are good agreement with Singh et
m-2). T2 recorded highest weed population of 27.83 m-2 al. (1986) and Nadagouda et al. (1996).
though it was much less than the control (44.17 m-2 ).The It was evident from table 1 that under T4 treatment
integrated treatment of oxyflourfen plus HW at 30 DAT plants were the tallest (59.42 cm), having highest
(T7) recorded significantly lower weed population than number of leaves (7.17). In control plot, the plant height
control. This may be attributed to initial checking of and number of leaves were the lowest (50.08 cm and
weed growth by oxyflourfen and HW at 30 DAT. Similar 5.33 respectively). Sole application of pendimethalin
results have also been reported by Singh et al. (1986) (T4) showed better management of weed flora indicating
and Nadagouda et al. (1996). Sole application of the ability of pendimethalin to suppress the growth of
pendimethalin (T4) showed better management of weed all types of weed flora through its higher persistency in
flora than oxyflourfen(T1), indicating the ability of the soil. As a result it reduced the crop-weed competition
pendimethalin to suppress the growth of all types of and facilitated the vegetative growth. The maximum
weed flora through its higher persistency in the soil in bulb diameter (collar, equatorial and polar) was obtained
comparison to oxyflourfen. These results are in good in T4 (5.86 mm, 37.49 mm and 32.70 mm respectively).
conformity with the observations of Al Kothayari and T4 performed best because pendimethalin was able to
Hassan (1990). In case of monocot, both the treatments control all types of weed flora more efficiently than
T7 (8.62 g m-2) and T4 (8.33 g m-2) recorded the minimum oxyflourfen or other herbicides. The control plot
dry weight of weeds. Highest dry weight of weeds was recorded the lowest bulb diameters than all the
obtained in control plot (68.99 g m-2). In case of dicot treatments because the treatment had the highest weed
weeds, T7 gave the best results recording 2.32 g m-2 dry competition resulting in unfavourable growing
weight followed by T5 (6.07 g m-2 ). Control plot gave conditions for the crop. The integration of HW at 30
highest dry weight of weeds over the years, recording DAT to the chemical herbicide oxyflourfen (T7) gave
44.06 g m-2. It is clearly revealed that T7 showed lowest the next best result. This could be attributed to the initial
dry weight of weeds (10.94 g m-2) followed by T4 suppression of the weed growth by herbicide and HW
(16.66g m-2) and T5 (19.51g m-2). In control, total dry at 30 DAT further reduced the crop weed competition.
weight was fairly high i.e. 113.05g m-2. This confirms Data presented in table 2, revealed that maximum
that these treatments significantly reduced the dry weight fresh weight of bulb weight was obtained in T4 (76.06
of weeds over the control gave lowest dry weight as the g) closely followed by T2 (75.67g). In respect of dry
weeds population was less due to the combination of weight, T4 recorded maximum dry weight (9.60 g) as
hand weeding and herbicide. Among sole herbicide compared to control (T8). T4 recorded the highest yield
treatments, pendimethalin (T4) was found to be the best as well as marketable yield of 23.81 t ha-1 and 22.95 t
treatment in comparison with oxyflourfen (T1). This ha-1 respectively followed by T3 (21.79 t ha-1 as yield
confirms that pendimethalin was able to control the and 20.98 t ha-1 as marketable yield). The control plot
population of weed flora more efficiently than other recorded 14.69 t/ha and 13.81 t ha -1 as yield and
herbicides alone. Similar results were reported by marketable yield respectively.T4 recorded the highest

J. Crop and Weed, 12(1) 113

Effect of herbicides on onion

TSS (12.95 0 brix) followed by T7 (12.86 0 brix). Lowest bulb yield was obtained. Hence the treatment recorded
TSS was found in the bulbs of the control plot. Treatment highest bulb yield than other treatments. Data presented
T4 recorded the highest weight of bulbs among all the in table- 2, also revealed that, the marketable yield of
treatments. Sole application of pendimethalin was found onion cv. Sukhsagar was found to be maximum in T4
to be more effective than its combination with (22.95 t ha-1), followed by T3 (20.98 t ha-1) andT5 (20.50
quizalofop ethyl or oxyflourfen alone or combination t ha-1).The treatment T4 gave highest additional benefit
of oxyflourfen and quizalofop ethyl which confirms
(Rs. 45750 ha-1) as compared to control. Likewise,
pendimethalin as better alternative herbicides for
maximum net profit was also obtained from T4 (Rs
suppressing the different weed flora without integration
of hand weeding. The result may be attributed to higher 42150 ha-1), followed by T3 (Rs. 29900 ha-1) and T5 (Rs.
persistence of the herbicide in the soil there by 28820 ha-1). But it was observed that the highest cost
suppressing the weed flora for longer duration, resulting benefit ratio was obtained from T4 (1:11.70) followed
in less crop-weed competition and for this reason higher by, T5 (1:6.15) and T3 (1:4.98).

Table 1: Effect of different treatments on population dynamics, dry weight, weed control efficiency and
vegetative growth of onion (Pooled data of 2 years)
Treatments Population Dry weight (g m-2) Weed Plant
dynamics (No. m-2) Total control height Number Bulb diameter (mm)
Monocot Dicot Monocot Dicot efficiency (cm) of Collar Equatorial Polar
T1 20.50 13.67 11.13 13.20 24.33 78.24 56.84 6.33 5.15 32.84 31.31
T2 37.50 27.83 24.37 23.21 47.58 57.60 56.21 6.33 5.18 32.62 31.24
T3 18.50 17.83 14.02 16.26 30.29 73.26 56.77 6.50 5.15 32.33 30.37
T4 13.33 7.83 8.33 8.33 16.66 85.12 59.42 7.17 5.86 37.49 32.70
T5 15.67 11.17 13.44 6.07 19.51 82.44 55.71 5.83 5.10 32.75 30.29
T6 46.00 25.83 33.63 23.67 57.30 49.71 56.82 5.67 5.23 32.35 30.93
T7 14.67 2.50 8.62 2.32 10.94 90.21 56.28 6.17 5.43 34.57 30.69
T8 65.50 44.17 68.99 44.06 113.05 0.00 50.08 5.33 4.41 30.33 28.26
SEm(±) 1.34 1.49 0.94 0.75 1.38 1.16 0.59 0.34 0.10 0.79 0.36
LSD (0.05) 3.81 4.26 2.68 2.13 3.94 3.32 1.70 0.96 0.28 2.25 1.02
Note: (Angular transformed values were used for analysis)

Table 2: Effect of different treatments on bulb weight, yield, TSS and cost : benefit analysis of onion (pooled
data of 2 years)
Weight of bulb(g) Yield (t ha-1) TSS Additional Cost of Net profit Cost: benefit
Treatments ( 0
Brix) benefit over treatment (Rs ha-1) (Rs. ha-1)
Fresh Dry Total Marketable -1
control (Rs ha )

T1 61.91 7.87 19.45 18.19 12.55 21950 6240 15710 1:2.51

T2 75.67 7.62 20.64 19.34 12.59 27650 6000 21650 1:3.60
T3 65.03 7.47 21.79 20.98 12.76 35900 6000 29900 1:4.98
T4 76.06 9.60 23.81 22.95 12.95 45750 36 42150 1:11.70
T5 67.73 7.85 20.80 20.50 12.71 33500 4680 28820 1:6.15
T6 62.83 8.10 18.36 17.79 12.58 20000 4392 15608 1:3.55
T7 63.19 8.45 20.47 19.74 12.86 29900 7620 22280 1:2.92
T8 54.44 6.46 14.69 13.81 12.32 - - - -
SEm (±) 0.82 0.32 0.82 0.80 0.10 - - - -
LSD (0.05) 2.34 0.90 2.35 2.27 0.29 - - - -

J. Crop and Weed, 12(1) 114

 Chattopadhyay et al.

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