Vol. 12, Issue 9 (2023)

Author(s):
Shrankhla Mishra, SK Pyasi, MK Awasthi and RN Shrivastava

Abstract:
The main factor that affects the process of photosynthesis in plants is water availability. Insufficient water can directly impact agriculture by leading to reduced food production. When dealing with limited water, it becomes crucial to maximize how efficiently water is used to optimize profits. To achieve this goal, it's important to assess the relationship between the sizes of the plant bulbs. The aim is to improve plant growth and increase onion yields using a comprehensive approach that combines controlled watering, fertilization, and protective coverings. This research seeks to determine the point at which the highest income is achieved in the production process. Deficit irrigation (DI) is a strategy that involves providing limited water during sensitive growth stages or throughout the growth period of crops. This approach aims to make the most of water resources by subjecting plants to specific levels of water stress. The impact of DI, mulching, and fertigation on onion yields and other growth factors was found to vary based on the intensity of water stress, the type of mulch used, and the application of fertilizers. Among all the treatments, it was observed that the combination of 100% DI with straw mulch and 100% fertigation resulted in the highest level of production. However, there was no significant difference in production between treatments involving 80% DI and 75% fertigation.