Effects of compost on onion quality, yield, and thrips infestation

Abstract Although onion, Allium cepa L., production has been enhanced by the addition of organic matter to soil, other reports indicated no effect. In this study, onion plots (var. Sweet Sunrise) were treated with conventional fertilizer, composted sugar mill ash and vegetative yard waste, or fertilizer + compost. Measurements during two consecutive growing seasons in Lower Rio Grande Valley Texas recorded on soil nutrients, nutrients leaf tissue, lengths, bulb yields terms numbers weights different size classes, biochemical qualities. Our study demonstrates that compost enriched fertility, particularly P, K, Zn; percentage N tissue was increased same extent as plants received fertilizer; leaves grew long fertilizer. At harvest, small cull bulbs consistently most prevalent control, although had a positive influence marketable bulbs, provided highest first season. During second season, however, abundant receiving Treatment effects thrips-induced scarring negligible. We conclude useful for increasing yield, improved decomposed over seasons.