International Journal of Horticulture, 2024, Vol.14, No.4, 207-217 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/ijh 207 Research Article Open Access Effect of Different Mulching Materials on Onion (Allium cepa) Production at Lamahi, Dang, Nepal Dibyashori Rana Magar1, Anita Sharma1 , Smirty K.C. 1, Binod Kafle1, Bhuwan Bohara2, Lal Bahadur Chhetri 3 1 Department of Agriculture, Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Tribhuvan University, 33700, Nepal 2 Department of Agriculture, Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, 246174, India 3 Department of Horticulture, Agriculture and Forestry University, 44200, Nepal Corresponding author: Anitapokhrel1999@gmail.com International Journal of Horticulture, 2024, Vol.14, No.4 doi: 10.5376/ijh.2024.14.0023 Received: 28 Apr., 2024 Accepted: 02 Jul., 2024 Published: 10 Aug., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Magar et al., This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Magar D.R., Sharma A., K.C. S., Kafle B., Bohara B., and Chhetri L.B., 2024, Effect of different mulching materials on onion (Allium cepa) production at Lamahi, Dang, Nepal, International Journal of Horticulture, 14(4): 207-217 (doi: 10.5376/ijh.2024.14.0023) Abstract Winter onion production in rainfed regions is constrained by the limited availability of soil moisture. Mulching has proven to be a viable tool to conserve soil moisture and enhance yield. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of different mulching methods on the performance of onion (Allium cepa L. var. Nasik Red N 53) concerning its yield and yield attributes during the winter season (Nov–March) at Lamahi-5, Dang. The experiment was laid out following a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications and seven treatments. The treatments were T1: Control, T2: Saw Dust (1 kg), T3: Straw (1 kg), T4: Banana Leaves (1 kg), T5: Neem Leaves (1 kg), T6: White Polythene (30 µ), and T7: Rice Husk (1 kg). The onion variety Nasik Red was transplanted at a spacing of 20 cm by 10 cm. Biometrical parameters like plant height, and number. of leaves, length of leaves, neck thickness, neck length, and yield-attributing characters like shoot weight, bulb weight, bulb length, bulb diameter, root length, root weight and total yield were observed. The collected data were statistically analyzed for the best mulching materials using analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the separation of means for significant effects was by least significant difference (LSD) at the 5% level of probability. Among different mulching materials, white plastic mulch was best in terms of vegetative and phenological observations like plant height (64.8 cm) and number of leaves (11) at 100 DAT, while length of leaves (32.7 cm) was found to be significant at 60 DAT. White plastic mulching at 30µ was best in terms of yield and yield attributing characteristics like bulb diameter (7 mm), bulb weight (117.5 gm), and yield per plot (27 tons/ha). In the upcoming days, it would be a better idea to use this technique to reduce weeds, conserve moisture, and improve soil health, producing more yield. Keywords Onion (Allium cepa); Growth; Mulching materials; Yield 1 Introduction Onion (Allium cepa L.) is one of the most important vegetable crops which occupies third rank in terms of the area and production in the global review and widely used all year round in Nepalese as an important condiment (Mishra et al., 2020). Onion (2n=2x=16), herbaceous biennial plant belonging to Alliaceae family grown foe it’s edible bulb. The domestication of onion is tracked back to more than 5000 years ago from Central Asia between Turkmenistan and Afghanistan where some of relatives still grow in wild. Onion from Central Asia, supposed onion ancestor had probably migrated to Near East (Bagali et al., 2012). Leaves arise from underground part of stem having dorsi-ventral, flattened leaf blade and flower stalks reaches height of 2.5 to 6 feet (75-180 cm), terminating in a spherical cluster of small greenish white flowers. It is commonly known as “Queen of the kitchen” due to it's highly valued flavor, aroma, unique taste and medicinal properties of its' flavor compounds (Griffiths et al., 2002). An edible portion of 100 gm raw onion bulb contains 1.1 gm protein, 9.3 gm carbohydrate, 89% water, 4.2 gm sugar, 1.7 gm fiber and 0.1 gm fat (Bjarnadottir, 2023). The Sulphur compound allyl propyl disulphide contributes to pungent aroma of onion (Randle and Lancaster, 2002). Onions has alsoplayed a vital role in preventing heart diseases and other ailments (Kim and Park, 2010). Onion is popular over local shallot because of its high yield potential per unit area, availability of desirable cultivars for various uses, ease of propagation by seed, high domestic use (bulb and seed) and export (bulb, cut
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