The demonstration was conducted to evaluate and demonstrate the recommended fungicides and irrigation scheduling for diseases management and increasing yield of onion. A total of 25 pastoral and agro-pastorals were selected based on their interest and commitment towards the technology, model farmers, managing the experiment and have appropriate land for the demonstration. Both theoretical and practical training were given for them mainly focused on proper preparation of land, Irrigation scheduling, Diseases identification based symptoms, time of disease appearance, fungicide and proper application methods. Treatments: T1 = fungicide (Mancozeb) + 25mm/5 days irrigation water, T2 = fungicide (Mancozeb) untreated (control) + irrigation water and T3 = Agropastoral practices were demonstrated for yield and disease intensity. The results shows that the highest bulb yield (295q/ha) and the lowest average severity of purple blotch and stemphylum blight (24% and 27.67%), respectively were observed on plots with fungicide (mancozeb) + 25mm/5days irrigation water when compared with farmers practice and untreated control. During the field visit, pastorals and agro pastorals expressed as they were interested and happy with the demonstrated nafis variety along with recommended fungicide (mancozeb) and irrigation scheduling (25mm/5days) for its resulting highest bulb yield, marketable bulb yield, and low disease severity and highest net of return. Therefore, offices of agriculture needs to provide technical support to them on irrigation schedule, diseases symptom, time of diseases appearance and proper fungicide application method through different educational and extension method to manage the diseases and water use to maximize yield and net return.
Demonstration; Fungicide; Irrigation scheduling; Disease; Onion; Preference