Effect of Vermicompost with Different Leguminous Crops as Nitrogen Source on the Pest Occurrence and Performance of Onion (Allium cepa)

Abstract

The occurrence of pest affects the growth and yield of plants. The use of various leguminous crops as nitrogen source was experimented to evaluate the effectiveness as bio-fertilizer and pest repellant. A field experiment was conducted at the Organic Agriculture Project of CapSU Burias, Mambusao, Capiz to determine the effect of vermicast from various leguminous crops as N source on the pest occurrence and performance of onion. It was a two cropping study which was laid out in 2×4 factorial experiment using Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Factor A was the cropping seasons such as A1 –first cropping (January-March) and A2 –second cropping (May-July). Factor B was the vermicast from various leguminous crops as N source which comprised of B1 –Azolla, B1 –Trichanthera, B1 –Kakawate, and B1 –Mixed (Azolla, Trichanthera, and Kakawate). All the data gathered were subjected to Analysis of Variance using STAR software. Differences among treatment means were compared using the Least Significant Difference (LSD) test and Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT). All growth and yield parameters of onion were not affected by the vermicompost with different leguminous crops as N source. Onion applied with vermicompost with Kakawate had the bigger fruit which was comparable to those onions applied with vermicompost with azolla and vermicompost with trichanthera. Parameters of onions such as the number of leaves, diameter of leaves, length of roots, biomass, survival rate, diameter of bulb, length of bulb, weight of marketable part and non-marketable part were affected by the cropping seasons. Onions grown and harvested in the first cropping January to March had the taller plant, most number of leaves, bigger leaves, longer roots, greater biomass, bigger bulb and gained higher marketable part than second cropping while on the other hand, onions grown and harvested in the months of May to July (second cropping) increased the length of roots and longer survival rate than first cropping. Onions applied with vermicompost with kakawate yielded the highest net profit with the total amount of (Php 221.40).