Economic Assessment of Organic Manure and Irrigation Intervals on the Growth and Yield of Onion (Allium cepa L.) at Lake Alau and Pelachiroma, Borno State, Nigeria

Field trials were conducted in cool dry season of 2012/2013 at Lake Alau and Pelachiroma, Borno State, Nigeria. It viewed the cost and return of organic manure used with different levels of irrigation intervals on the growth and yield of Onion (Allium cepa .L). Treatments consisted of four organic manures (cow dung at rate of 20t/ha, goat dung at rate of 20 t/ha, poultry litter at rate of 15 t/ha and no manure) and five levels of irrigation intervals (3, 6, 9,12and 15 days). The economic assessment was based on the onion bulb yield obtained. Partial budgets involving the analysis of variable input costs and benefits were drawn for all the treatments. Items considered were the gross benefit (N/ha), total cost (N/ha), net benefit (N/ha) and marginal rate of returns (MRR). Combined analysis of poultry litter (15t/ha) and 6 days irrigation intervals produced the highest net benefit and marginal rate of return in both trials and the combined. It is recommendated that onion farmers in lake Alau and Pelachiroma should employ poultry litter at 15t/ha and 6 days irrigation intervals for high yield and maximum cost benefit.