Journal of Horticulture
Open Access

Abstract

Onion (Allium cepa l. Var. Cepa) Bulb Traits as Affected by Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates and Intra-Row Spacing under Irrigation in Gode, South-Eastern Ethiopia

Gessesew WS, Woldetsadik K and Mohammed W

Shebelle river basin along the Gode district is one of the most suitable areas for the production of dry bulb onion, which is an important cash crop for farmers in the study area. However, the productivity of the crop is low due to poor agronomic practices and managements. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted at Gode Polytechnic College demonstration farm in 2013 under irrigation to assess the effect of N fertilizer rates and intra-row spacing on bulb triats of onion (Allium cepa L.). The treatments were consisting six rates of N fertilizer (0, 46, 69, 92, 115, 138 kg ha-1) and four levels of intra-row spacing (7.5, 10, 12.5 and 15 cm). The experiment was designed in randomized complete block design with three replications. Results of the analysis revealed that the interaction effects of N rates and intra-row spacing showed highly significant (P<0.01) effect on bulb diameter and mean bulb weight parameters whereas the two factor show again a significant (p<0.01) independent effect on bulb length and bubl dry weight. The correlation analysis revealed that bulb length (cm) has a significant (p<0.05) positive correlation with bulb diameter parameter (r=0.24*), bulb weight (r=0.77**) and bulb dry weight (r=0.73**) and inversely correlated with that of nek thickness (r=-0.28*). Thus, It can be concluded that almost all bulb traits of onion can respond well at higher N rate (138kg N ha-1) combined with 15cm inra-row spacing under Gode condition.