Effect of biostimulants on growth of onion (Allium cepa L.)Effect of biostimulants on growth of onion (Allium cepa L.)

The field experiment was conducted during rabi season (2024-25) at Horticulture Garden of College of agriculture, Rajendranagar, Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University, Hyderabad, India. To know the effect of biostimulants on growth of onion. The experiment, comprised of nine treatments, was laid out in a randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. The growth of onion was significantly influenced due to foliar application of biostimulants. Various bistimulants were used like, seaweed extract, pink pigmented facultative methylotrophic bacteria (PPFM), moringa leaf extract, humic acid and vermiwash. Among various biostimulants used in the experiment RDF + foliar application of 19:19:19 @ 0.5% treatment (T₈) recorded significantly tallest plants, highest number of leaves plant^-1 and dry matter production at 20, 40, 60 DAT and at harvest which was on par with RDF + foliar application of seaweed extract @ 0.25% (T₃) and RDF + foliar application of moringa leaf extract @ 3% (T₅) and these were superior over the remaining treatments. However lowest plant height, number of leaves and dry matter production was recorded in RDF (T₁) and followed by RDF + foliar application of water (T₂).