Vol. 12, Issue 9 (2023)

Author(s):
RB Sonawane, RM Birade and HM Patil

Abstract:
The field experiment was conducted to study the zeolite application for management of purple blotch through development of disease resistance and quality yield of kharif onion (Allium cepa L.) for the period of four years in randomized block design with three replications and ten treatments consisted of eight zeolite treatments, recommended fungicide and absolute control treatment. The application of different zeolite dose recorded significantly lower disease severity of purple blotch of onion as compared to absolute control. The results indicated that 4 sprays of tebuconazole 25.9% EC @ 1 ml/l with RDF treatment recorded the minimum percent disease index (PDI) of purple blotch (17.69%) which was at par with treatment i.e. zeolite 500 kg/ha with RDF (21.88%). The application of zeolite @ 0 kg/ha without RDF i.e. absolute control recorded the maximum percent disease index (43.49%) than rest of the treatments. The 4 sprays of tebuconazole 25.9% EC @ 1.0 ml/l with RDF treatment recorded highest onion yield (129.46 q/ha) which was significantly superior than all treatments of zeolite application. The application of zeolite @ 0 kg/ha without RDF recorded lowest onion yield (84.39 q/ha) than rest of the treatments. Application of zeolite @ 500 kg/ha along with RDF (100 kg N: 50 kg P₂O₅: 50 kg K₂0)/ha before transplanting of onion seedlings is recommended for development of resistance against purple blotch and higher yield of kharif onion.