| Abstrakt: |
A field experiment was conducted at the Horticulture Research Farm of the University of Agriculture Peshawar Pakistan during summer 2015 to find out the effect of different plant spacings and weed control treatments on onion yield and its infesting weeds. A two factorial RCBD experimental design was used for the experiment replicated three times. Factor A was termed as plant spacing (10, 15 and 20 cm) while factor B included the treatments of Rumex crispus as mulch, Euphorbia helioscopia as mulch, a hand weeded treatment and a weedy control for comparison. Data were taken on weed density m-2, fresh weed biomass (kg ha-1), plant height (cm), bulb size (cm), biological yield (t ha-1), bulb yield (t ha-1) and the cost benefit ratio. Results of the experiment showed that plant spacing, weed mulches and some of their interactions showed significant effect on growth and yield parameters. Plant to plant spacing of 20 cm significantly increased the weed density, weed biomass and bulb size of onion; whereas minimum weed density and biomass were obtained at 10 cm plant spacing which resulted in increased plant height, biological and bulb yields. Among the treatments of weed control, weedy check resulted in highest weed density, biomass and onion plant height while hand weeding resulted in highest bulb size, biological and bulb yields as compared to the weedy check. The values in the mulches treatments were though lower than hand weeding but better than the weedy check. In conclusion, the 10 cm spacing among onion seedlings and the mulching of R. crispus and E. helioscopia can be recommended as a suitable environmentally friendly weed management method for the enhancement of onion yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
