ISHS Acta Horticulturae 533: VIII International Symposium on Timing Field Production in Vegetable Crops
EFFECT OF PLANT DENSITY ON YIELD AND BULB SIZE OF DIRECT SOWN ONIONS |
| Authors: | J. Rumpel, K. Felczynski |
| Keywords: | Allium repa, plant population |
| Abstract:
Two field experiments were conducted to study the effect of plant density on yield, size grading and maturity of onion bulbs, grown from seeds. In the first experiment carried out during 1991–1993, three onion cultivars (Hysam F1, Mercato F1 and Sochaczewska) were sown for intended densities of 20, 40, 60, 80,100 and 140 plants m-2, whereas in the second one, in 1996, six onion cultivars (Spirit F1, Summit F1, Hyduro F1, Armstrong F1, Renate F1 and Robusta) were sown for intended densities of 40, 60 and 80 plants m-2. The onions were grown on beds, 1.35 m wide, in 4 rows per bed (27 + 27 +27 + 54 cm). Marketable yield increased with plant density and depending on year was highest at 80 or 100 plants m-2. The average marketable yield of the 1991–1993 experiment increased from 20.5 t.ha-1 at 20 plants m-2 to 32.8 t.ha-1 at 80 plants m-2, whereas that of the 1996 experiment increased from 48.9 t.ha-1 at 40 plants m-2 to 59.0 t.ha-1 at 80 plants m-2, respectively. Yield of large bulbs decreased with density and was highest at 20–40 plants m-2 opposite to the yield of small bulbs, which was highest at highest density of 140 plants.m-2 The medium bulb yield increased with density at the some way as compared the total marketable yield. Plant density hastened maturity of onions and at density of 140 plants m-2 the leaf fall-over occurred 8–10 days earlier as compared at density of 20 plants m-2. The cultivars used can be placed in the following order of decreasing productivity: 1. Hysam F1, Mercato F1 and 3. Sochaczewska, - in the first experiment (1991–93) and 1. Armstrong F1, 2. Spirit F1, 3. Robusta, 4. Renate F1, 5. Hyduro F1 and 6. Summit F1 - in the second experiment (1996), respectively. | |
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