Increasing Quality Transplants through the Use of Microbial and Soil Amendments against Damping-Off Disease in Onion

The study was undertaken to identify best microbial and soil amendment in seedbeds that yielded quality transplants and to determine the effect of microbial and soil amendments in the seedling production.The following treatments were evaluated: T1 - Bacillus subtilis at 25 g; T2 - Trichoderma spp. (Asperellum and longibrachiatum) at 25 g; T3 – Vermicompost at 1.0 kg; T4 - Composted goat manure at 1.0 kg; T5 - Mancozeb M-45 at 10 g and T6 – Untreated (no application). The trial was laid in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and replicated three times. Observations were done at 10 DAS for % seed germination, 16 DAS and 25 DAS for % damping off, % seedling survival at 30 DAS, seedling height, root length and fresh weight of seedlings at pulling stage (35 DAS). The result of the study showed Red Pinoy onion variety has the lowest percentage of dumping off disease from the application of Vermicompost at 16 DAS and 25 DAS. Highest percent seed germination at 10 DAS, highest percent seedling survival at 30 DAS, tallest seedlings and heaviest weight of seedlings were produced by the application of composted goat manure. For Yellow Granex onion variety, Trichoderma spp. obtained lower percentage of dumping off at 25 DAS statistically similar to the effect of standard control Mancozeb M-45. Composted goat manure produced highest percent seed germination and Vermicompost obtained higher percent seedling survival comparable to the standard control Mancozeb M-45. Results obtained showed a significant (P=0.05) effect on the treatments on the different characters measured. Based on result, application of all treatments have shown fungal activity that promoted better growth and quality of onion seedlings for transplant.