Vol. 8, Issue 11, Part M (2024)

The significant role of integrated crop management (ICM) and targeted fertilizer types in enhancing soil fertility, nutrient availability and overall soil health in onion cultivation. The treatments consisted of first six treatments were with Nano fertilizers (conventional fertilizers viz., T₁: Recommended Package of Practice (RPP); T₂: RPP + Bentonite-S (Sulphur, 50 kg S/ha); T₃: RPP + Bentonite-S (Sulphur, 50 kg S/ha) + Boron @ 2. 5 kg/ha + ZnSO₄ @ 25 kg/ha, T₄: RPP + Bentonite-S (Sulphur, 50 kg S/ha) + Boron @ 2. 5 kg/ha+ FeSO₄ @ 25 kg/ha; T₅: RPP + Bentonite-S (Sulphur, 50 kg S/ha) + Boron @ 2. 5 kg/ha + ZnSO₄ + FeSO₄ each at 25 kg/ha; and T₆ = RPP + Bentonite-S (Sulphur, 50 kg S/ha) +Vegetable Special at 5 g per litter (Twice at 45 and 60 DAS) and further six more treatments were modified version of RDF i.e. T₇: 50% Recommended N P + 100% Recommended K and spray of Nano-Urea & DAP @ 4 ml/L, twice at 45 and 60 DAS); T₈: 50% Recommended N P + 100% Recommended K and spray of Nano-Urea & DAP @ 4 ml/L, twice at 45 and 60 DAS + Bentonite-S (Sulphur, 50 kg S/ha); T₉: 50% Recommended N P + 100% Recommended K and spray of Nano-Urea & DAP @ 4 ml/L, twice at 45 and 60 DAS + Boron @ 2.5 kg/ha + Spray with Nano Zn at 2 ml per liter (Twice at 45 and 60 DAS); T₁₀: 50% Recommended N P + 100% Recommended K and spray of Nano-Urea & DAP @ 4 ml/L, twice at 45 and 60 DAS + Boron @ 2.5 kg/ha + Spray with Nano Fe at 2 ml per liter (Twice at 45 and 60 DAS); T₁₁: RPP (50% Recommended N P + 100% Recommended K and spray of Nano-Urea & DAP @ 4 ml/L, twice at 45 and 60 DAS + Boron @ 2.5 kg/ha + Spray with Nano Zn & Fe each at 2 ml per liter (Twice at 45 and 60 DAS); T₁₂: 50% Recommended N P + 100% Recommended K and spray of Nano-Urea & DAP @ 4 ml/L, twice at 45 and 60 DAS +vegetable special at 5 g per litter (Twice at 45 & 60 DAS) and absolute control. The absolute control (T₁₃) exhibited the highest soil pH (8.21 and EC (0.46 dS m⁻¹), T₂ and T₁₁ treatments were recorded the lowest pH (7.86) and EC (0.36 dS m⁻¹), respectively. The highest OC, available N, P and K content were recorded with treatment T₅ (5.25 mg kg⁻¹, 232.78 kg/ha, 19.92 kg/ha and 404.75 kg/ha, respectively. The highest micronutrients including zinc (0.68 mg kg⁻¹), iron (4.02 mg kg⁻¹), manganese (0.91 mg kg⁻¹) and copper (2.25 mg kg⁻¹) was recored with treatment T₆. The study highlights the importance of integrated nutrient management, where treatments like T₆ and T₅, significantly improve soil fertility and micronutrient availability, leading to better plant growth and productivity.