Studies on the Soil Test Crop Response (STCR) nutrients on Growth, Yield, Quality of Onion (Allium cepa L.) and Fertility Status of Alfisols

Soil test crop response (STCR) nutrient management is an advanced approach for productivity of crop and sustaining soil health. On the basis of this technology, field experiment was conducted at Agriculture College and Research Institute, Killikulam, Tamil Nadu during the Rabi season of 2019-20 and 2020-21 to study the effect of soil test crop response (STCR) application of N, P, and K along with zinc and boron on growth, yield, quality of onion and soil fertility status. The growth, yield, and quality were significantly influenced by the soil and foliar application of zinc and boron with STCR dose of NPK. Application of STCR (106:97:54 kg of NPK ha-1) + ZnSO4 @ 25 kg ha-1 + 0.5% foliar spray significantly influenced the growth, yield characters, bulb yield, bulb quality and maintained soil fertility status. The lowest growth, yield characters, bulb yield, and quality with lower fertility status were recorded under control. The fertilizer treatment of STCR (106:97:54 kg of NPK ha-1) + ZnSO4 @ 25 kg ha-1 with 0.5% foliar spray was found to be the best suitable method and dose for onion production in the semi-arid tract of southern Tamil Nadu.