Annual Research & Review in Biology

An experiment was conducted at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during Robi season for determining the effect of micronutrients (Zn, B, and Mn) with different levels of macronutrients (NPKS fertilizers) on the quality of onion (Allium cepa L.) seed. The experiment was conducted with four levels of micronutrients viz. M₁= Zn₀B₀Mn₀ kg/ha, M₂= Zn₄B₁Mn₂ kg/ha, M₃= Zn₆B₂Mn₃ kg/ha and M₄= Zn₈B₃Mn₄ kg/ha and three doses of macronutrients viz. F₁= N₅₇P₂₁K₃₉S₉ kg/ha, F2= N₁₁₄P₄₂K₇₈S₁₈ kg/ha and F₃ =N₁₇₁P₆₃K₁₁₇S₂₇ kg/ha. Application of micronutrients and different doses of macronutrients increased plant height and number of leaves per plant at different growth stages, days required to first bolting, days required to first anthesis, the percentage of seed germination and seed vigor index. The highest percent germination of seeds (88.89%) and seed vigor index (2084.77) were recorded from M₃ (Zn₆B₂Mn₃ kg/ha) treatment and the lowest percent germination of seed (84.44%) and seed vigor index (1724.26) were observed in M₁ (Zn₀B₀Mn₀ kg/ha) treatment. The F₂ (N₁₁₄P₄₂K₇₈S₁₈ kg/ha) treatment produced the highest percent germination of seed (90.67%) and seed vigor index (2258.20) and F₁ (N₅₇P₂₁K₃₉S₉ kg/ha) treatment produced lowest (85.25% and 1721.05 respectively). Among the treatment combinations, M₃F₂ (Zn₆B₂Mn₃ kg/ha × N₁₁₄P₄₂K₇₈S₁₈ kg/ha) produced the highest germination of seed (94.00%) and seed vigor index (2537.33) and M₁F₁ (Zn₀B₀Mn₀ kg/ha × N₅₇P₂₁K₃₉S₉ kg/ha) produced the lowest germination of seed (82.67%) and seed vigor index (1488.66).