Agricultural Research Management Information System

Home
Research Summary
Search
About Us
- ARMIS
- Brochure
Contact Us
Report
User Request
Data Input
Help
- Operation Manual
  - PDF
  - Video
- Program Area & Commodity
We have reached 37600 number of research entries at this moment.

- Logout

Research Detail

Home
Research
Detail

Mother Bulb Weight and Plant Density Influence on Seed Yield and Yield Attributes of Onion

Dr. Mahbub Robbani
Professor
Department of Horticulture, PSTU

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Bulb weight and plant density affect onion (Allium cepa L.) seed quality. A field experiment was conducted to investigate effects of bulb weight and plant density on yield and yield attributes of onion, cv. Taherpuri, seed. Bulbs with weights of 5 ± 2, 10 ± 2, and 15 ± 2 g, and plant densities of 100, 120, 133, 150, 160, and 200 plants/6 m2 were used to determine effects. Plant emergence, number of green leaves/plant, umbel diameter, number of flowers/umbel, seed yield/plant, seed yield/plot, and germination percentage were measured. Maximum umbel diameter (7.46 cm), number of flowers/umbel (371.39), number of seeded fruit/umbel (245.16), seed yield/plant (2.94 g), and highest seed germination (96.45%) were with 100 plants/6 m2 and highest seed yield/plot (286.00 g) was obtained at 200 plants/6 m2 when heaviest bulbs were used. The lowest seed yield/plant was when small bulbs were grown at a density of 200 plants/6 m2.
For quality onion seed production, a heavy bulb established at the lowest plant density provided the best results.

Keywords: Motherbulb,Weight and plantdensity, Influence,Seed yield ,Onion

Location: Department of horticulture, PSTU

Start Date: 01-01-2008

End Date: 31-12-2008

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Onion

Objectives:

To determine effects of a wider range of bulb weights and plant densities than previous studies on germination percentage, umbel characteristics, seed yield, and yield-related characters of onion

Methodology:

The two-factorial experiment was arranged in a completely randomized block design with three replications. The first factor was mother bulb weight: 5 ± 2, 10 ± 2, or 15 ± 2 g. The second factor was plant density: 100, 120, 133, 150, 160, and 200 plants/6 m². Individual plot size was 4 × 1.5 m2. Plots were fertilized according to BARC (2005) recommendations. Onion seed were hand harvested from the middle 1 m² of each plot. Weeding was done by hand at 20 days after transplanting (DAT). Additional weeding was performed three times. At 65 DAT plants were staked with split bamboo sticks to maintain flowering stalks erect and prevent mechanical damage. To prevent shattering, umbels were harvested in the morning. Number of green leaves was counted from 10 randomly selected plants at 45 days after planting because reproductive growth starts from this day. Number of flowers/umbel was counted from 10 randomly selected plants at the maximum flowering stage. Number of days to 50% bulb emergence with leaves was determined, and number of green leaves/plant was counted, starting the first day after planting. Umbel diameter was recorded from 10 randomly selected plants after flowering and seed maturity were complete. Umbels were collected using a paper bag and dried by spreading on brown paper in an oven to obtain 9% moisture determined by the air oven moisture method (American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 1982; Khatun et al., 2010). Seed yield·plant−1 was recorded from 10 randomly selected plants. Seed were separated by beating the umbels with a small wooden stick. After cleaning and winnowing, dried seed were placed in airtight polyethylene bags and stored in a dry place at room temperature. From each plot, 1000 mature seeds were counted and weighed. Total seeds in each plot were bulked and weighed. Seed moisture was adjusted to 9% (fresh weight basis) by drying in the sun. Seed moisture content was determined by the air oven moisture method (American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 1982). Yield/plot was converted into yield·ha−1.

Source of Information: International Journal of Vegetable Science, 21:98–108, 2015

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Bulb weight and plant density affected growth- and yield-related parameters of onion seed. A range of variables wider than any previously reported was used. Some results occurred that were different from previous reports regarding mother bulb weight and plant density, which include number of seeded fruit/umbel and days to 50% emergence, which are newly assessed parameters. Values of other parameters assessed were higher with lower mother bulb weight than previously reported for the same parameters. This would be much more useful to breeders as well as farmers because onion mother bulb is an expensive input. However, in this study, use of smaller sized mother bulbs did not produce any consistent benefit regarding seed yield, umbel properties, seed yield factors, and seed germination.

Knowledge Management: Journal