Onion cultivation approach by custom-made outdoor hydroponics: A very first attempt in Bangladesh

Abstract

Onion is one of the most important economic crops in the world for growing, trading and consuming. But its production rate is lower in Bangladesh due to insufficient farmlands and alternative production systems. So, onion cultivation hydroponically would be a potential consideration in Bangladesh. In this experiment, onions were grown in custom-made outdoor hydroponics using ground water of Barishal, Kirtankhola River water and deionized water as treatments to check their performances for future use. Ground water demonstrated best performances and the average yields of ground water were more than half of land based yields. Besides, only plant growth was normal in ground water treatments throughout the experiment. Finally, the authors concluded that onion production is possible hydroponically in Bangladesh and to minimize the need of commercial fertilizers; the ground water of Barishal is recommended.