Effect of Applying Different Alfalfa and Moringa Leaf Extract Concentration Rates on Yield and Quality of Onion (ALLIUM CEPA L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at practical site of College of Agriculture
and Environmental Science, Arsi University, during main season of 2017 to
evaluate the effect of alfalfa and moringa leaf extract concentration
application at different rates on onion growth, yield and yield quality
attributes. The treatments consisted of four rates of alfalfa leaf extract
(control, 2%, 3% and 4%) and four rates of moringa leaf extract (control,
2%, 3% and 4%). The experiment was laid out as a randomized complete
block design in a factorial arrangement and replicated three times. The
results revealed that combined application of alfalfa and moringa leaf extract
application had significantly influenced leaf number per plant, plant height,
leaf length, root length, root number, days to maturity, mean bulb weight,
marketable yield, unmarketable yield, total yield and total soluble solid of
onion crop. The combination of alfalfa and moringa leaves extract at the rate
of 4% resulted in maximum leaf number per plant (12.76), plant height
(89.18 cm), leaf length (68.71cm), root length (14.23cm), root number
(63.02) and days to maturity (122.66), which increased by 48.04, 43.26,
48.87, 39.84, 48.22 and 89.92%, respectively, as compared to the values
obtained from plants grown in the control /without application. Moreover,
combined alfalfa and moringa leaf extract application at the rate of 4% each
had a significantly increased the yield and on quality parameters like marketable yield (88.16Q/ha), unmarketable yield (19.29Q/ha), mean bulb
weight (94.55gm/bulb), total bulb yield (88.26 Q/ha) and total soluble solid
(8.92%) which was improved by 21.88%, 457.73%, 37.18%, 31.14% and
45.74%, respectively as compared to the control. Therefore, the results of
this study indicated that, combined alfalfa and moringa leaf extract
application at the rate of 4% led to optimum growth and yields of the onion
crops. Thus, it was recommended that, application of growth hormone
obtained from leaf extract of alfalfa and moringa at 4% concentration was
assured the growth, yield and quality attributes of onion product can be
improved.