Accepted 10 January, 2012

Transcription

1 Africn Journl of Plnt Science Vol. 6(6), pp , 27 Mrch, 12 Aville online t DOI:.5897/AJPS ISSN Acdemic Journls Full Length Reserch Pper Influence of ul topping nd intr row spcing on yield nd qulity of some shllot (Allium Cep Vr. Aggregtum) vrieties t Aneded wored, western Amhr Dereje Ademe 1 *, Derew Belew 2 nd Getchew Tor 3 1 Deprtment of horticulture, Deremrkos University, Ethiopi. 2 College of Agriculture nd Veterinry Medicine, Jimm University, Ethiopi. 3 Derezeit Agriculturl Reserch Center, Ethiopi. Accepted Jnury, 12 Lck of improved vrieties nd production prctices hve een the ottlenecks of shllot productivity in Amhr region. Bul topping hve een trditionlly prcticed mong shllot growers in the region though its importnce remined controversil mong interested groups worldwide. There ws no recommended spcing for shllot in the study re nd frmers used to prctice rodcsting. Thus, field experiment ws conducted to investigte intr-row spcing, vriety, ul topping nd their interctions influences on yield nd qulity of shllot nd therey to recommend the optimum prctices. The study ws undertken etween Decemer 09 nd My t Gudlim nursery site, Aneded Wored. Three different intr-row spcings (, nd cm) nd two ul types (whole nd topped t one-third of ul height) were evluted using four vrieties of shllot ( locl, Negelle, Hurut nd Minjr ) with RCBD replicted three times. Dt were recorded nd sujected to ANOVA using SAS 9.2 softwre. The results of the study showed significnt vritil, intr-row spcing, two wy, nd three wy interction effects. Topped uls of Hurut plnted t cm nd Minjr plnted t cm intr-row spcings produced the highest nd the lowest ul weight per plnt respectively. Topped uls of Hurut nd Negelle plnted t cm intr-row spcing produced the highest mrketle yield per h. Using the topped uls of Hurut nd Negelle t wider intr-row spcing positively influenced the mjority of yield nd qulity prmeters evluted. Thus, it is dvisle to use the cm intr-row spcing nd topped uls for etter production of mrketle yield. However, further investigtions should e mde to come up with complete recommendtions. Key words: Bul topping, intr-row spcing, qulity, shllot. INTRODUCTION Shllot (Allium cep L. Aggregtum group) is perennil plnt produced s nnul nd produces severl uls from single prent ul (Tindll, 1983; Splittstoesser, 1990; Smrtt nd Simmonds, 1995; Roinowitch nd Kmenetesky, 02). It is thought to e originted in western Asi where it hs een cultivted since very erly period. It is eing cultivted in Tropicl Asi, West *Corresponding uthor. E-mil: deme.dereje@gmil.com. Tel: Fx: Afric, Centrl nd Est Afric, Tropicl South Americ nd the Crien. On glol se, shllot is minor lliceous crop. However, in res where onion seed is hrd to produce, or onion production is difficult nd the growing seson is too short for the production of ul onion, shllot is cultivted s n importnt sustitute for ul onion in Southest Asi, s well s in some Africn countries including Ethiopi (Roinowitch nd Kmenetesky, 02; Thoms, 08). Shllot is widely produced in high- nd mid- ltitudes of Ethiopi nd minly used s condiment (Getchew nd Asfw, 00; Getchew et l., 09). According t o BOARD (02),

2 Ademe et l. 191 shllot is mong the mjor csh crops produced in Amhr region including the study re, Est Gojm Zone. However, production nd productivity hs een limited due to its propgtion using vegettive uls, sence of improved vrieties, lck of improved production nd protection technologies, high post-hrvest losses, nd sence of virnt mrket system tht encourges producers (Getchew et l., 09). Shllot is plnted s topped nd whole ul in different prts of the world. Rshid nd Singh (00) nd Roinowitch nd Kmenetesky (02) reported tht the growing portion of the ul is topped one-fourth to onethird of the height for esy nd quickly sprouting of more growing uds. Peter (06) lso reported tht uls re topped to rek ud dormncy nd enhnce uniform sprouting prior to plnting. Godfrey-Sm-Agrey et l. (1987) reported tht topped uls emerge four to five dys erlier thn whole uls. However, Shrm et l. (08) reported tht plnting of whole onion uls produced significntly higher ul yield (1.57 t per h more) thn one-third topped uls. Getchew nd Asfw (00) lso reported tht topped medium sized uls estlished significntly lower crop stnd nd less fresh ul yield thn whole uls of the sme nd lrge-sized uls nd ttriuted to reduced initil food reserve nd predisposl of the uls to fungl diseses nd other decying orgnisms. The uthors, however, suggested tht ul topping could e prcticed under conditions where ul diseses re not prolems. Despite the forementioned reserch results, frmers in the study re hve een prcticing topping s one of the indispensle production prctices. Thus, there is need to investigte the contrdictory reserch results nd the prctice of the frming community in order to recommend the prctice for use in mjor shllot producing res of the region. The optimum intr-row spcing is not yet estlished for Western Amhr. Willims et l. (1991) nd Tindll (1983) reported tht shllots re commonly plnted t intr-row spcings etween 12 to cm. Devi nd Anl (08) recommended cm s optimum intr-row spcing for shllot for higher mrketle yield. Bodnr () lso reported shllots plnted t to cm etween the uls gve highest mrketle yield. Thus, interntionlly, optimum intr-row spcing for shllot is contentious nd is dependent on the experience of the production res. There is no recommended plnt spcing for shllot in the study re nd frmers trditionlly prctice non-uniform plnt spcing to grow shllots. Some frmers use the intr-row spcing recommended for onion ( cm) despite the fct tht shllots produce multiple uls per plnt unlike onion nd thus need totlly different intr-row spcing. Asence of improved shllot vrieties in the region lso hs een ottleneck to its production nd productivity. Hence, the ojective of the present study ws to investigte the effects of ul topping, intr-row spcing nd their interction on yield nd qulity of some shllot vrieties in Aneded Wored, Western Amhr. MATERIALS AND METHODS Study site The study ws conducted in 09/ from Decemer 09 to My under irrigted condition t Aneded Wored, Estern Gojm Zone of western prt of Amhr region; 280 km northwest of Addis A, Ethiopi. The experimentl site is locted t 14 N ltitude nd E longitude nd hs n ltitude of 2443 m ove se level with verge nnul rinfll of 12 mm, the men mximum nd minimum temperture of 23 C nd.6 C, respectively, soil with ph of 5.7, percent orgnic mtter of 4.7 nd soil texture of silt cly. Experimentl mteril nd tretments There were 24 tretment comintions, consisting of four vrieties (Negelle, Hurut, Minjr nd Locl), three intr-row spcing (, nd cm) nd two ul types (one-third topped uls nd whole uls). Buls were stored t the sme condition to mintin uniform resting period. Cured nd medium sized ( to 30 g) uls were selected for the experiment. Hlf of the uls from ech vriety nd spcing comintions were topped to one-third of ul height nd the lower two-third of the uls were plnted, while the remining hlf of them were plnted s whole uls on ridges nd with spcing of 30 cm etween doule rows, 30 cm etween rows nd, nd cm etween plnts sed on the tretment comintions (Getchew et l., 09). Experimentl design The experiment ws lid out in 4*3*2 fctoril rrngement using rndomized complete lock design with three replictions. The size of ech experimentl plot ws 3.6 m 2 (3 m wide nd 1.2 m long). The distnce etween locks nd plots were 1 nd 0.5 m, respectively. Mngement of the experiment The tretments received 69 kg/h N nd 92 kg/h P 2O 5 (Getchew et l., 09). All the P 2O 5 nd hlf of N fertilizers were pplied during plnting nd the remining hlf N ws pplied fter month of 50% sprouting (BOARD, 02). Irrigtion wter ws pplied for ll plots on the dy of plnting to void desicction on topped uls. There ws occurrence of downy mildew (Peronosphor destructor) nd Redomil gold 63.5 ws spryed four times t the rte of 3.0 kg per h, mixing in 00 liter wter per h. All other mngement prctices were provided s per the recommendtions (Getchew et l., 09). Dt collected Dt were collected nd nlyzed for yield nd qulity prmeters evluted from ten rndomly selected plnts nd the men ws tken except for yield (t/h) nd qulity prmeters in which the dt ws recorded on net plot ses. Weight of ul per plnt (g) Men ul weight of ten smpled plnts. It ws mesured fter hrvested nd cured, using sensitive lnce (model BP s, county in grm nd precision 0.01) nd expressed in grm.

3 192 Afr. J. Plnt Sci. Weight of mrketle uls per plnt (g) Men mrketle ul weight of ten smpled plnts. Averge weight of helthy mtured uls greter thn 25 mm in dimeter (Prissn-nnthkul, 08) ws mesured fter curing using sensitive lnce nd expressed in grm. Dry mtter content (%) m - me *0 mf - me Where: m = mss of the dish contining dry mtter in grms m f = mss of the dish contining fresh weight in grms m e = the mss of the empty dish in grms Weight of unmrketle uls weight per plnt Men unmrketle ul weight of smpled plnts. Averge weight of norml mtured uls nd less thn 25 mm in dimeter ws mesured fter curing using sensitive lnce nd expressed in grm. Biologicl yield per plnt Men iologicl yield of ten smpled plnts. It is the sum totl of weight of eril prts (shoot prts) nd under ground prts (uls nd roots) nd ws mesured fter the uls were lifted nd ll the soil ws removed nd ws expressed in grms. Hrvest index per plnt (%) It ws computed y dividing men weight of mture ul of plnts tken (economic yield) y the men iologicl yield of plnts tken using the eqution (Pessrkli, 01): Hrvest Index Totl yield (t/h) Economic Yield *0 Biologicl Yield Sum totl of mrketle nd unmrketle ul yield. The totl ul yield (kg/plot) from the net plot ws weighed fter the uls cured for two dys under shde, nd ws converted to t/h. Mrketle yield (t/h) Totl weight of clen, disese nd dmge free uls with greter thn 25 mm in dimeter mesured in kg/plot nd converted in to t/h. Unmrketle yield (t/h) Totl undersized, defected nd disesed ul weight nd expressed in kg/plot nd converted in to t/h. Bul dry weight (g) From ech plot, uls of smple plnts were lifted, uls were rndomly selected, nd fresh weigh ws recorded nd then cut into pieces, dried in oven t 5 C for 60 h to constnt weight. Men dry weight of uls ws recorded in grm. Bul dry mtter content (%) It ws from the rtio of dry weight to fresh weight nd expressed in percent s the formul suggested y Undersnder et l. (1993). Totl solule solids (%) Totl mount of solule solids present in the ul. It ws recorded from the juice of five rndomly smpled uls of ech plot nd ws mesured using n electricl ench refrctometer (Model NAR-1T, mde y Wgtech Interntionl Limited, Atgo digitl thermometer) t Dere Zeit Agriculturl Reserch Center horticulture section lortory t temperture of C nd expressed in percent. Shpe of ul The shpe of ten rndomly selected mture uls per plot ws clssified sed on IPGRI descriptors for Alliums species (IPGRI, 01). The shpe index (ul length to ul dimeter rtio) ws used for nlysis. Bul color Color of ten rndomly selected uls from ech plot ws scored y experts of Derezeit Agriculturl Reserch Centre. The numers were ssigned s 1 for deep red, 2 for red nd 3 for light red to quntify nd nlyze the dt. Sttisticl nlysis The men vlues of ll the forementioned prmeters were sujected to nlysis of vrince (ANOVA) using the SAS pckge (SAS, 02, version 9.2). Lest significnt difference (LSD) procedure ws used to compre differences etween tretment mens t p=0.05 whenever the tretment effects were significntly different. RESULTS As shown in Tle 1, interction effects of vriety, intrrow spcing nd ul topping showed highly significnt (p<0.001) difference on totl ul weight nd weight of mrketle uls per plnt nd significnt (p<0.05) difference on weight of unmrketle uls per plnt. As presented in Figure 1, the vrietls effect showed very highly significnt (p<0.001) difference on dry mtter content. However, none of the min nd interction effects other thn vriety were significnt for the dry mtter content. Locl vriety gve 9, nd 21% more dry mtter content over Minjr, Negelle nd Hurut vrieties respectively. Tle 2 indictes interction effects of vriety, intr-row spcing nd ul topping showed very highly significnt (p<0.001) difference on iologicl yield per plnt, hrvest index per plnt nd totl solule solid. As result, whole uls of Minjr plnted t cm intr-row spcing nd whole uls of Hurut otined t cm intr-row

4 Ademe et l. 193 Tle 1. Totl, mrketle nd unmrketle ul weight per plnt of shllot s influenced y the interction of vriety, intr-row spcing nd ul topping. Bul weight (grm per plnt) Vriety Spcing (cm) Bul topping Totl Mrketle Unmrketle Whole mn m c Topped lm m c Locl Negelle Hurut Minjr Whole ij jk 68. d Topped 2.39 hij j e Whole fg c Topped de hi d Whole 1.55 n 111. l f Topped lm j g Whole jk i gh Topped ghi gh h Whole fg ed 5.35 kl Topped l Whole no kl gh Topped kl 7.83 i 23. i Whole gh 4.36 ef j Topped ef d j Whole c c.61 j Topped jk Whole op n d Topped p n de Whole kl 7. l c Topped 9.77 ghi jk Whole cd i Topped efg j LSD (0.05) CV (%) spcing produced the highest nd the lowest iologicl yield per plnt respectively. The effects of intr-row spcing showed very highly significnt (p<0.001) difference on ul dry weight nd shllot uls plnted t cm intr-row spcing produced nd 66.91% more ul dry weight thn uls plnted t nd cm intr-row spcing respectively. Tle 3 indicted tht the interction effects of vriety, intr-row spcing nd ul topping showed significnt (p<0.05) difference on totl yield per hectre nd highly significnt (p<0.01) difference on mrketle nd unmrketle yield per hectre. Interctive effects of vriety nd ul topping reveled significnt (p<0.05) difference on ul dry weight per plnt. The interction effects of vriety nd intr-row spcing showed highly significnt (p<0.01) difference on ul shpe index. As shown in Figure 5, the min effects of vriety on ul skin color ws very highly significnt (p<0.001). As result Hurut nd Negelle vrieties hd light red color, Locl red color nd Minjr deep red color.

5 Dry mtter content (%)) 194 Afr. J. Plnt Sci..00 LSD (0.05)= CV(%)= c c Locl Negelle Hurut Minjr Vriety Figure 1. Effects of vrieties on percent dry mtter content of shllot. Tle 2. Biologicl yield nd hrvest index per plnt of shllot s influenced y the interction of vriety, intr-row spcing nd ul topping. Totl solule solid Vriety Spcing (cm) Bul topping Biologicl yield/plnt (g) Hrvest index/plnt (%) ( 0 rix) Whole 1. kl (8.93 -d ) c Topped jk (8.87 -d ) Locl Negelle Hurut Whole i (8.84 -d ).00 Topped i (9.01 c ) cd Whole cd (8.86 -d ) c Topped fg (9.16 ).17 Whole kl (8.82 -d ) e-h Topped 2.93 jk (8.97 -d ) def Whole hi (8.62 dc ) i Topped g (8.62 cd ) hi Whole ef (8.60 d ) ghi Topped c (8.74 cd ) def Whole l (8.91 -d ).67 i Topped j (8.95 -d ).83 i Whole fg (8.77-d) 11.50f-i Topped fg (9.06) 12.90cd Whole d (8.78-d) 12.17d-g Topped (8.72cd) 12.17d-g

6 Ademe et l. 195 Tle 2. Contd. Minjr Whole gh 48. (6.94 g ) c Topped 314. e (6.33 h ) de Whole (6.85 g ) d-g Topped (7.36 f ) d-g Whole (7.13 fg ) def Topped d (8.11 e ) cd LSD (0.05) CV (%) Mens followed y the sme letter in column re not significntly (p<0.05) different, numers in prenthesis re squre root trnsformtions. Tle 3. Totl, mrketle, nd unmrketle yield (t/h) of shllot s ffected y the interction effect of vriety, intr-row spcing nd ul topping. Yield (t/h) Vriety Spcing (cm) Bul topping Totl Mrketle Unmrketle Whole ghi m Topped hi m Locl Negelle Hurut Whole e.79 ij.86 c Topped cd fg c Whole de g 9. ef Topped ef 22. ghi 8.33 g Whole f gh 8.62 fg Topped fgh gh 5.36 i Whole hi gh 4.44 j Topped c c 4.00 jk Whole hi fg 2.37 l Topped c l Whole e f 6.18 h Topped e 9.52 de Whole cd de 5.26 i Topped c 5.66 hi Whole cd de 3.47 k Topped c m Whole 26.52hi 12.55mn Topped 24.92i.97n Minjr Whole 30.efg 16.56l Topped 34.70dc 21.17hij Whole 28.53fgh 18.40kl.13d Topped 30.56ef 19.26jk 11.30c

7 196 Afr. J. Plnt Sci. Tle 3. Contd. LSD (0.05) CV (%) Mens followed y the sme letter in column re not significntly (p<0.05) different. DISCUSSIONS Totl ul weight per plnt (g) Topped uls of Hurut plnted t cm intr-row spcing produced the highest ul weight per plnt followed y the sme uls of Negelle plnted t similr spcing, whole uls of Hurut plnted t cm nd whole uls of locl plnted t cm intr-row spcing, wheres oth ul types of Minjr plnted t cm intr-row spcing produced the lowest ul weight per plnt ut not sttisticlly different from ech other (Tle 1). Differences in shllot vriety s responses to different intr-row spcings re mnifested in differentil ility to trnsform ccumulted iomss to ul production under different intensities of interplnt competition. Differences in intr-row spcing enhnced plnt-plnt vrition in terms of ccumulted iomss nd this phenomenon ffected ul yield nd the stility of dry mtter prtitioning to uls. Lrge plnts in wide in-row spcing hve competitive dvntge nd could e identified with high cpcity for resource cpture nd use for ul production. This result is consistent with Tendj (05) who reported tht shllot clusters vried in weight from 50.7 to g when shifted from high to low plnting density. Kimni et l. (1993) lso reported significnt ul yield vrition mong eight onion cultivrs nd this vrition present mong cultivrs hd different response to fctors. Knton et l. (03) reported decrese in ul weight s the plnt popultion per squre meter incresed from 50 to 0 plnts likely due to competition ssocited with closely spced plnts tht resulted in lower ul weight per plnt. Auker (08) lso reported tht the highest yield per plnt of en ws otined from nd 30 cm spcings s compred to cm. Topped uls produced vigorous shoot nd owing to optimum spce, they would result in uls with wider dimeter nd higher yield. Moreover, etter ir circultion reduces disese occurrence which contriutes to higher yield per plnt. Pld nd Crossmn (1998) lso reported tht n increse in okr fresh weight per plnt from 38 g to 70 g with the incresing in plnt spcing from 31 cm to 41 cm due to incresing in the numer of stem nd wider lef re per plnt t wider spcing. The result is in greement with Rshid nd Singh (00) who reported tht ul topping should e prcticed to enhnce vigorous sprouting. In contrst, Getchew nd Asfw (00) nd Shrm et l. (08) reported topped uls produced low yield. Weight of mrketle uls per plnt (g) Topped uls of Hurut plnted t cm intr-row spcing produced the highest weight of mrketle uls followed y topped uls of Negelle with the sme intrrow spcing, wheres oth ul types of Minjr plnted t cm intr-row spcing produced the lowest weight of mrketle uls lthough not significntly different from ech other (Tle 1). High mrketle ul weight in topped uls of Hurut nd Negelle t wider spcing could e ccounted y the production of lrger nd helthy uls t these tretments. Weight of unmrketle uls per plnt (g) Both ul types of Minjr plnted t cm intr-row spcing produced the highest ut sttisticlly similr weight of unmrketle uls followed y topped uls of Minjr plnted t cm intr-row spcing nd whole uls of locl vriety plnted t cm intr-row spcing. On the other hnd, topped uls of Negelle plnted t cm intr-row spcing produced the lowest weight of unmrketle uls per plnt followed y topped uls of Hurut plnted t cm intr-row spcing (Tle 1). Production of high unmrketle ul weight in topped uls of Minjr t wider spcing might ttriuted to the production of high mount of olters in these tretments which resulted in smll sized uls. Biologicl yield per plnt (g) Whole uls of Minjr plnted t cm intr-row spcing produced the highest iologicl yield per plnt wheres whole uls of Negelle nd Hurut plnted t cm intr-row spcing produced the lowest iologicl yield per plnt though they were sttisticlly similr (Tle 2). The production of higher iologicl yield in Minjr could e ecuse of more flower stlks. Buls plnted t wider spcing grow more vigorously nd otined more iologicl yield per plnt. Hrvest index per plnt (%) Both ul types of locl, Negelle nd Hurut vrieties plnted t ll intr-row spcings produced the highest nd sttisticlly similr hrvest index per plnt except oth ul types of Negelle plnted t nd cm

8 Ademe et l. 197 intr-row spcing nd topped uls of Hurut plnted t cm intr-row spcing. Wheres, topped uls of Minjr plnted t cm intr-row spcing produced the lowest hrvest index per plnt (Tle 2). Higher hrvest index ws more pronounced in locl, Hurut nd Negelle vrieties plnted lmost t ll ul types nd intr-row spcings. This might e, in cse of locl presence of shorter lef nd plnt height nd thin lef dimeter will reduced the ove ground iomss nd resulted in higher hrvest index, wheres in cse of Negelle nd Hurut, production of smller numer of leves nd reltively lrger uls ccounted the highest hrvest index per plnt. The lower hrvest index in Minjr might e due to the production of more flower stlks which diverted ssimiltes wy from the economiclly importnt uls. Agele et l. (07) lso reported significnt interction effect etween sun flower vrieties nd intr-row spcing in terms of totl iomss ccumultion. Kir nd Srkr (08) lso reported significnt interction effect on hrvest index of mungen nd the highest vlue recorded from vrieties t closer spcing proly due to the reduced vegettive iomss. Knton et l. (03) lso reported onion yield incresed from 17.4 to 39.5 t/h s plnt popultion per squre meter incresed from 50 to 0. Crlson et l. (09) reported plnt density did impct the yield of two potto vrieties nd oth vrieties produced highest totl yields t the closest plnt spcing cm. Hemphill (1987) lso reported tht fourfold increse in plnting density douled the yield of shllot. In contrst to the results of the present study, Kir nd Srkr (08) lso reported tht interction effects etween vriety nd spcing were significnt for seed yield of mungen nd the highest vlue ws recorded t wider spcing which hs less popultion density. Shrm et l. (08) nd Getchew nd Asfw (00) lso reported tht plnting topped uls resulted in reduced yield. As compred with the ntionl verge yield of shllot (25.00 t/h, Getchew et l., 09), except topped uls of Minjr plnted t cm intr-row spcing, ll the tretments gve higher yield nd Hurut plnted t cm intr-row spcing gve 66% more yield s compred to the yield otined from improved vrieties. This vrition might e due to the suitility of the experimentl site in terms of soil ph (5.7) nd orgnic mtter (4.7%). Totl yield (t/h) Topped uls of Hurut plnted t cm intr-row spcing produced the highest yield per hectre ut not sttisticlly different from the sme vriety nd ul type plnted t nd cm nd topped uls of Negelle plnted t cm intr-row spcing (Tle 3). The higher numer of uls otined from Hurut nd Negelle t higher densities ( nd cm) t hrvest compensted for the lower ul weight ssocited with higher plnt popultion densities. Wheres, topped uls of Minjr plnted t cm intr-row spcing produced the lowest totl yield per hectre lthough it ws not sttisticlly different from whole uls of the sme vriety plnted t the sme spcing nd oth ul types of locl plnted t cm nd whole uls of Negelle plnted t cm nd cm intr-row spcings. Although the nrrow spcing produced smller plnts with lower lef length nd dimeter per unit re more plnts in nrrow spcing resulted in higher lef re index. Totl yield per hectre incresed s plnt density incresed lthough yield of the individul plnts nd their components were significntly reduced suggesting compenstion of higher plnt densities on yield in shllot. This result is in greement with Tendj (05) who reported tht n increse in intr-row spcing of shllot from 5 to cm resulted in reduction of totl yield from 36.0 t/h to 23.9 t/h ut the mjority (86%) of the uls re undersized nd then unmrketle in cse of 5 cm intr-row spcing. Rekowsk nd Skupien (07) lso oserved tht significntly higher yield of uls nd green leves of grlic ws collected when the highest clove plnting density in the row hs een used (2 cm). Mrketle yield (t/h) Topped uls of Hurut plnted t cm intr-row spcing produced the highest mrketle yield per hectre ut not sttisticlly different from topped uls of Negelle plnted t cm intr-row spcing. On the other hnd, oth uls of Minjr plnted t cm intr-row spcing produced the lowest nd sttisticlly similr mrketle yield per hectre (Tle 3). Production of high mount of mrketle yield in topped uls of Hurut nd Negelle t wider spcings might e due to the dvntge of producing lrger nd helthier uls per plnt on those tretments. This result is in greement with Tendj (05) who reported tht n increse in intrrow spcing of shllot from 5 to cm resulted in increse in mrketle yield from 21 q/h to 4 q/h. Stoffell (1996) lso oserved tht s in-row spcing incresed, mrketle onion yield incresed. Tendj nd Kuzyk (01) lso oserved mong the intr-row spcings oserved (30, 40, 50 nd 60 cm) the 40 nd 50 cm spcings produced the highest mrketle yield of cge. Crlson et l. (09) lso reported tht the wider spcing of cm etween plnts incresed in the production of lrge sized tuers. Unmrketle yield (t/h) Whole uls of Minjr plnted t cm intr-row spcing nd produced the highest unmrketle yield per hectre ut not sttisticlly different from topped uls of Minjr plnted t cm intr-row spcing nd oth ul types of Minjr plnted t cm intr-row spcing nd

9 Bul dry weight per plnt (g) 198 Afr. J. Plnt Sci. 45 LSD (0.05)= 1.84 CV(%)= c Intr-row spcing (cm) Figure 2. Effect of intr-row spcing on ul dry weight per plnt of shllot. whole uls of locl plnted t cm intr-row spcing. Wheres, topped uls of Hurut plnted t cm intrrow spcing produced the lowest unmrketle yield per hectre followed y topped uls of Negelle plnted t cm intr-row spcing nd whole uls of Negelle plnted t cm intr-row spcing (Tle 3). High unmrketle yield in closely spced plnts could e due to inter-plnt competition resulted in fewer lrge sized uls thn wider spcings tht negtively ffected the mrketle yield nd fvored the production of smll sized uls which re unmrketle. Results of the present study re in consistence with Geremew et l. () who pointed out tht unmrketle yield of onion is ffected y the interction etween vriety nd intr-row spcing. The uthors oserved tht Bomey Red plnted t cm intr-row spcing produced the highest unmrketle yield (89.87 q/h). QUALITY PARAMETERS Dry mtter content (%) Locl vriety produced the highest dry mtter content followed y Minjr. The Locl vriety hd 1.56, 3.23 nd 3.27% more dry mtter thn Minjr, Negelle nd Hurut, respectively which might e ttriuted to their genetic vrition (Figure 1). Kimni et l. (1993) reported dry mtter content vrition from low levels of 7 to % to high levels of to % in onion vrieties. The uthors further suggested tht onions with high dry mtter re preferred for processing. They further showed tht onions with high dry mtter content tend to yield less thn those with low dry mtter content nd the ltter lso exhiit rpid uling. Bul dry weight (g) Buls plnted t cm intr-row spcing produced greter ul dry weight per plnt thn those plnted t nd cm intr-row spcings. Shllot uls plnted t cm intr-row spcing hd ul dry weight dvntge of 8.7 nd g over crops plnted t nd cm intrrow spcings, respectively (Figure 2). The results of this study is in concurrent with Mohmmedli (1989) tht reported the different in-row spcings hd no effect on the dry mtter content of onion nd so provision of high fresh ul yields per plnt could ultimtely led to high totl dry weight production nd dehydrted product. Auker (08) lso reported tht pod dry weight of en tended to e higher under the lower plnting

10 Bul dry weight per plnt (g) per plnt (g) Ademe et l LSD (0.05)= 7.73 CV(%)= Whole Topped Whole Topped Whole Topped Whole Topped Locl Negelle Hurut M injr Vriety nd ul topping comintions Figure 3. Effects of vriety nd ul topping on ul dry weight per plnt of shllot. densities. Whole uls of Negelle hd the lowest dry weight, ut not significntly different form its topped uls, whole uls of Hurut nd Minjr (Figure 3). The highly significnt positive correltion etween ul dry weight per plnt nd weight of mrketle uls per plnt (r = 0.68***), totl ul fresh weight per plnt (r = 0.90***), nd dry mtter content (r=0.35**) in the present study lso reveled tht the presence of higher ul dry weight per plnt is ssocited with the higher ul fresh weight (incse of Hurut nd Negelle ) s well s with the higher dry mtter content (incse of locl nd Minjr ). Totl solule solid ( 0 Brix) Topped uls of Locl vriety plnted t cm intr-row spcing nd whole uls of the sme vriety plnted t cm intr-row spcing produced the highest totl solule solid. Wheres oth ul types of Hurut plnted t cm intr-row spcing produced the lowest ut sttisticlly similr totl solule solid (Tle 2). The higher mount of totl solule solid in locl nd Minjr might e ssocited with the presence of smll sized uls. This result is in consistency with Rjcumr (1997) who reported tht totl solule solid vrition of out 4.0 to 16.3% nd the mximum ws recorded from the locl cultivr onion. He further suggested cultivrs with high ul yields hve lower totl solule solids content s compred to the cultivrs with lowest yields nd negtive correltion (r=-0.85) etween ul yield nd solule solids content ws found, suggestive of strong ssocition etween these two chrcter. Mllor et l. () lso reported significnt negtive correltion found etween ul weight nd solule solids content. They elorte these results indicte trend in lrger onions to contin lower rtes of oth orgnosulfur derivtives nd crohydrtes; therefore, suggesting tht ul size increse ws ecuse of higher wter content. Wlsh et l. (07) lso reported tht higher totl solule solid otined from fruits of plum, pech nd nectrine hrvested from higher cnopy positions with the increse vilility of photo ssimiltes t higher cnopy positions due to higher level of irrdition. Shpe of ul Minjr plnted t cm intr-row spcing produced higher ul shpe index (1.61). Wheres Hurut plnted t nd cm intr-row spcings produced smll ul shpe index (Figure 4). As the ul shpe index ecome higher, it shows the presence of longer ul length which result in more cylindricl/ovl shpe. Crowding plnts will produce smller nd slimmer uls nd longer uls hrvested t closer spcing ecuse of competition etween uls nd resulted longer uls with slim dimeter (high ul shpe index). Kimni et l. (1993) reported ul shpe difference mong onion cultivrs nd ws ffected y environmentl conditions. They further explined gloe shped (shpe index = 1) re preferred y consumers. Bul shpe nd size my lso e relted to the length of growing period with rpid growth resulting in elongted uls while long growing periods produce lrger uls (Delhut nd Newenhouse, 03) which ws true in the cse of Minjr. The result is lso in conformity with the work of Grnt nd Crter () tht pointed out incresing plnt density of onion from 50 to 0 plnts per squre meter incresed the percentge of shpe rejects due to incresed ul shpe index from 7.9

11 Bul shpe index) 0 Afr. J. Plnt 2 Sci. LSD = CV (%) = c c cd cd cd d d cm cm cm cm cm cm cm cm cm cm cm cm Locl Negelle Hurut Minjr Vriety nd intr-row spcing comintions Figure 4. Interction effect of vriety nd intr-row spcing on ul shpe index of shllot. to.3%. According to the uthors, uls hving shpe index of >1.2 were regrded s hving n uncceptle s Europen mrkets demnd flttened gloe shped onion for ese of pckging. Knton et l. (03) lso reported the increse in ul shpe index of onion with incresing in plnt popultion. Bul color Minjr produced deep red ul skin color followed y the locl vriety tht produced red ul skin colour (Figure 5). Negelle nd Hurut produced similr light red ul skin color. The red nd deep red skin color uls re more demnded y the consumers in the mrket. This result is sustntiting Getchew nd Asfw (00) who reported ul shpe nd skin colour vritions were oserved mong the Ethiopin shllot cultivrs. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS Shllot is one of the populr nd the most cultivted vegetles in Ethiopi in generl nd in Amhr region in prticulr. Frmers in the study re produce shllot s csh crop using topped uls of locl vrieties with nonuniform plnt spcing sed on the existing indigenous knowledge. The present study ws thus conducted to investigte the effect of different intr-row spcings nd ul topping on yield nd yield components of four shllot vrieties nd to recommend options for frmers in nd round the study re. Results of the study showed tht min effects of intr-row spcing, ul topping nd vrieties s well s their interctions hd sustntil influences on different prmeters. The present study showed tht plnting topped uls of Hurut nd Negelle t cm intr-row spcing hd positively influenced the mjority of yield nd prmeters evluted nd thus it is dvisle to use these for the production of igger uls with desirle ul shpe index nd higher mrketle yield. In ddition, it is lso dvisle to use locl vriety for high dry mtter content, totl solule solid, nd etter ul skin color. However, production of Minjr is not dvisle in res hving similr conditions with the study re ecuse of its high olting nture nd the consequent yield reduction though it hd the est ul skin color, dry mtter content, nd totl solule solid unless there is inhiition of the flower stlk production using different culturl prctices. However, further investigtion must e mde under different sesons in order to fully recommend the results of the present study which is sed on one seson nd loction. In ddition, it is etter to ssess the potentil of Minjr for otnicl seed production s it hs high olting nture. This would e prospect to solve the prolems in shllot production expnsion y lleviting

12 Bul skin color ) Ademe et l LSD (0.05)= 0.39 CV(%)= c Locl Negelle Hurut Minjr Vriety Figure 5. Effects of vriety on ul skin color of shllot. the shortcomings of using uls s plnting mteril; lrge quntity, ulkiness, short shelf-life, nd source of inoculum for diseses nd pests. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Jimm University, Amhr Regionl Bureu of Agriculture, Aneded Wored Administrtion nd griculture nd rurl development offices re cknowledged for funding prtil reserch costs. REFERENCES Auker S (08). Effect of plnt density on flowering dte, yield nd qulity ttriute of Bush Bens (Phseolus Vulgris L.) under Center Pivot Irrigtion System. Am. J. Agric. Biol. Sci., 3(4): Agele SO, Mriyes IO, Adeniji I (07). Effects of vriety nd row spcing on rdition interception, prtitioning of dry mtter nd seed set efficiency in lte seson sunflower (Helinthus nnuus L.) in humid zone of Nigeri. Afr. J. Agric. Res., 2(3): Bodnr J (). Fct sheet: Shllots: Wht They re nd How to Grow Them. Ministry of griculture food nd rurl ffirs, Ontrio. Queen s printer for Ontrio: ISSN x. Bureu of Agriculture nd Rurl Development (BOARD) (02). Coffee, fruit nd vegetles production pckge (Amhric). Amhr Ntionl Regionl Stte, Bureu of Agriculture nd Rurl Development, Bhir Dr., p. 7. Crlson LH, Kiry D, Kliewer B, Thompson C (09). Evlution of culturl prctices to control hollow hert in premier russet. University of Cliforni Intermountin Reserch nd Extension Center, Reserch Progress No 121. Delhut KA, Newenhouse AC (03). Growing onions, Grlic, Leeks nd other Alliums in Wisconsin: A guide for fresh mrket growers (A3785). University of Wisconsin- system Bord of Regents nd University of Wisconsin-Extension, Coopertive Extension. Devi AK, Anl L (08). Yield nd economic response of multiplier onion (Allium cep L. vr ggregtium Don.) to gronomic mngement under Mnipur condition. J. Environ. Ecol., 26(4): Grnt DG, Crter BV (). The influence of culturl fctors on the ul shpe of the onion (Allium cep L.) Cultivr pukekohe longkeeper. ISHS Act Horticulture 433: I Interntionl Symposium on Edile Allicee. Geremew A, Teshome A, Ksye T, Amenti C (). Effect of intrrow spcing on yield of three onion (Allium cep L.) vrieties t Admi Tulu Agriculturl Reserch Centre (mid rift vlley of Ethiopi). J. Hortic. For., 2(1): Getchew T, Asfw Z (00). Reserch chievements in grlic nd shllot. EARO, Addis Ae, Ethiopi. Reserch Report No. 36. Getchew T, Eshetu D, Teikew D (09). Shllot nd Grlic Production Guide (Amhric). Ethiopi Institute of Agriculture Reserch, Dere Zeite, p. 52. Godfrey-Sm-Agrey W, Chemedo A, Htye S (1987). Review of shllot reserch in Ethiopi nd proposls for future reserch nd development directions. In: Godfrey-Sm-Agrey nd Bereke Teshy (Eds) proceedings of the first Ethiopin Horticulturl workshop. Addis A, Ethiopi. -22 Ferury Institute of Agriculturl Reserch, Addis A, pp Hemphill D (1987). Over wintering onions nd other Allium in the Willmette Vlley. Oregon Agric. Exper. Sttion Specil Rep., 794: 44. IPGRI (01). Descriptors for Allium (Allium spp.). Interntionl Plnt Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, Itly; Europen Coopertive Progrmme for Crop Genetic Resources Networks (ECP/GR), Asin Vegetle Reserch nd Development Center, Tiwn. Kir MH, Srkr MAR (08). Seed yield of mung en s ffected y vriety nd plnt spcing in Khrif-I seson. J. Bngldesh Agric. Univ., 6(2): Knton RA, Aey L, Hill RG, Til MA, Jn ND (03). Density ffects plnt development nd yield of ul onion (Allium cep L.) in Northern Ghn. J. Veg. Crop Prod., 8(2): Kimni PM, Krinki JW, Peters R, Rinowitch HD (1993). Influence of environment on the performnce of some onion cultivrs in Keny. Afr. Crop Sci. J., 1(1): -23. Mllor C, Blcells M, Mllor F, Sles E (). Genetic vrition for ul

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