Use of Compost in Onion Cultivation under No-Tillage System: Effect on Nutrient Uptake

Abstract

The nutrition of onion grown in a no-tillage system with compost requires research to provide alternatives to mineral fertilizers. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of compost rates on the nutrient content in the tissue of onion grown in a no-tillage system. We conducted a field experiment with the following treatments: 0, 10, 20, 30, and 60 Mg ha−1 of compost and mineral fertilization. We applied these treatments in 2018, 2019, and 2020 for onion cultivation. We used a 3 × 6 factorial scheme (year x treatment) and four replications. We evaluated the bulbs and whole plant nutrient contents of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, and B. In 2020, nutrient content in the bulb from 10 Mg ha−1 of compost was similar to the mineral fertilizer’s treatment. Therefore, compost can replace mineral fertilizers to supply nutrients to the onion. However, the continuous application of compost requires soil monitoring due to nutrient accumulation.