Effect of Different Sowing Methods on Yield and Bulb Characteristics in Onion (Allium Cepa L.)

Abstract

Direct sowing (DS), row direct sowing (RDS), and the transplanting method (TM) were investigated for two onion cultivars, Azar-Shahr (red skin onion) and Horand (yellow-brown skin onion) during 1999, at Khalat-Pooshan Research Station, Tabriz University. Analysis of variance for the measured traits indicated that except for the percentage of class II onions, other traits were significantly influenced by the sowing methods. TM had higher values of total yield, marketable yield, percentage of class I and III, bulb weight, homogeneity (HOM) of bulb weight, bulb diameter, HOM of bulb diameter, bulb length, HOM of bulb length, bulb diameter at the neck and base, number of centres, and percentage of bulbs containing multiple centres than the other methods. The cultivars differed significantly only for bulb weight, HOM of bulb weight, and postharvest longevity characteristics. The data suggest that TM could be an effective method in onion production areas without causing a change in soil texture. RDS was also a better method than DS in terms of marketable yield, and homogeneity of bulb weight.

Use of high-speed rotary tiller and power tiller operated seeder for onion (Allium cepa L.) cultivation

“…In addition, very heterogeneous and under-sized bulbs were recorded with broadcasting method due to uneven spacing and maximum plant population per unit area. The similar results were also disclosed by Motallebi et al (2001) and Khokhar et al (1990). They reported that transplanting method produced more homogenous bulbs than that of direct seeding.…”

“…Ahmed and Hassan (1978) reported that transplanting method delayed the maturity of bulbs. Ketema et al (2013) and Motallebi et al (2001) disagree with the present result. They stated that maturity was significantly more delayed in direct seeding method than that of transplant.…”

“…The broadcasting method had the minimum bulb weight (17.28g). Ketema et al (2013), Motallebi et al (2001) and Izadkhan et al (2009) also published a supportive result as transplanting method produced maximum average bulb weight than direct sowing. Hoque and Wohab (2013) opined that broadcasting had significantly the lowest bulb weight but bulb weight in the seed sowing by drum seeder was at par with that of direct line sowing.…”

“…Bulb diameter increased as plant population decreased (Bosekeng and Goetzer, 2015). Direct seeding resulted in significantly lower bulb diameter than transplanted seedling (Ketema et al, 2013 andMotallebi et al, 2001). On the contrary, direct seeding increased amount of large bulb as compared to transplanting method (Ahmed and Hassan, 1978).…”

“…The direct seeding gave significantly higher yield as compared to transplanting method (Gauder et al, 1988). In contrast, the transplanting method increased bulb yield compared with direct sowing (Ketema et al, 2013;Motallebi et al, 2001 andKhokhar et al, 1990). Direct seeding was superior over transplanting method in respect of yield (Macias-Duarte et al, 2004 andAhmed andHassan, 1978).…”