ABSTRACT
Evaluation of planting systems and seeds size in garlic (Allium sativum L.). II. Plant density and mother-bulb size in a single row cropping system

Agustín Aljaro U.1
 
During the 1985/86 season a research on garlic cv. Rosado-INIA was carried out at La Platina Experimental Station (INIA, Santiago). The aim for the experiment was to determine the influence on yield and quality of planting distance on the rows and the seed-bulb size. Three on the row planting distances were included: 5, 10, and 15 cm combined with four seed sizes: 4.5-5.2 cm diameter (first grading quality); 3.7-4.4 cm (second); 3.2-3.6 cm (third) and 2.7-3.1 cm (fourth). The trial, planted on June 18 th and harvested on December 15th, was designed under a single row cropping system and distributed in a split-plot experimental design. The results are referred to export quality bulbs (> 3.7 cm diameter) and local market bulbs (2.7-3.6 cm diameter). When the plant distance on the rows increased (low density), the total export yield was significantly reduced, while the caliber of the harvested bulbs improved. On the other hand, the intensity of these effects was shown to be dependant on the mother-bulb size selected to obtain the seed-cloves, according to the interaction shown by the statistical analysis. The best export yield was observed when the seed-cloves were obtained from 4.5 cm diameter bulbs (first grade bulbs).
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1 Estación Experimental La Platina (INIA), Casilla 439, Correo 3, Santiago, Chile