Original research article
Purpose: Efficient nitrogen (N) and water management are essential for sustainable onion (Allium cepa L.) production, particularly under changing climatic conditions and resource limitations. This study investigated the effects of N fertilization and irrigation levels on soil water status, soil inorganic N dynamics, plant growth, and bulb yield of onion under open-field conditions.
Methods: A split-plot field experiment was conducted during the 2023 - 2024 growing season using four N fertilization levels (0N, 1/3N, 2/3N, and 1N) and four irrigation levels (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of crop water requirement). Irrigation scheduling was based on solar radiation and rainfall, and irrigation was applied through a drip fertigation system. Soil water matric potential, soil inorganic N, plant growth, and bulb yield were determined.
Results: Soil water matric potential maintained at adequate moisture levels across treatments throughout the growing season. N fertigation significantly increased soil inorganic N availability, vegetative growth, biomass accumulation, bulb development, and yield, whereas irrigation had limited overall effects under the adequate soil moisture conditions. Soil inorganic N gradually declined during crop growth, indicating effective plant uptake without excessive residual accumulation. Onion yield increased progressively with increasing N application, reaching a maximum of 8271.8 kg 10a-1 under the 1N treatment. Two-way ANOVA indicated that N fertigation was the primary factor regulating onion growth and productivity under the experimental conditions.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that N availability is the primary factor governing onion productivity under adequate soil moisture conditions. Solar radiation-based irrigation management effectively maintained favorable soil moisture conditions and minimized water stress throughout the growing season. This integrated irrigation and N fertigation management provides a climate-adaptive and resource-efficient strategy for sustainable onion production.
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10.1016/j.agwat.2023.108136- Publisher :Korean Society of Soil Science and Fertilizer
- Publisher(Ko) :한국토양비료학회
- Journal Title :Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
- Journal Title(Ko) :한국토양비료학회 학회지
- Volume : 59
- No :3
- Pages :232-246
- Received Date : 2026-04-24
- Revised Date : 2026-07-30
- Accepted Date : 2026-08-05
- DOI :https://doi.org/10.7745/KJSSF.2026.59.3.232
Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
