Effect of watering and main fertilization rates on productivity and storage of intensively grown onion
Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: Plant supply with water and nutrients during their growing season is one of the key factors shaping the harvest. The influence rates of watering and the main fertilization on onion ‘Spirit’ F1 productivity (marketable yield and percentage of marketable yield from total) and productivity parameters (bulb weight and diameter) as well as storage properties were investigated. Investigations were carried out in the experimental fields of Lithuanian Institute of Horticulture in 2008–2009. The soil was calcaric epihypogleyic luvisol of sandy loam on light loam soil – Calc(ar)i-Epihypogleyic Luvisol (LVg-p-w-cc). Ploughing layer thickness was of 22–25 cm. There was small amount of humus in it, small and average amount of nitrogen, average amount of potassium, much phosphorus, calcium and magnesium. Investigations of production storage were carried out in storage houses of Biochemistry ant Technology Laboratory at the Institute in 2008–2010. Onions were stored warmly (temperature 18–20°C, humidity 60–70%). Bulbs storability was evaluated twice – in the beginning of January and at the end of May. There were evaluated the amounts of marketable and unmarketable (rotten, partly rotten, sprouted, i.e., unsuitable to use) bulbs and calculated natural loss, i.e. drying out. It was aimed to investigate the influence of watering and the rates of the main fertilization on onion productivity, productivity indices (bulb mass and diameter) and storability (marketable and not marketable production, natural storage losses). The highest yield of marketable onions (98.6 t ha-1) and percentage of marketable yield from total (84.6%) were obtained due to the application of average complex fertilizers before sowing and watered with medium (60 m3 ha-1) water rate. After watering 1 m3 of water there was received 111.7 kg ha-1 of marketable onion yield. The largest bulbs weight (80.5 g) was obtained applying high water rate and pre-sowing fertilized with straight fertilizers. The biggest diameter (49.0 mm) was obtained when onions were grown without watering and pre-sowing fertilized with high rate of complex fertilizers. The increase of bulb weight (without watering r = 0.90, applying medium watering rate r = 0.96, and high watering rate r = 0.97) and diameter (correspondingly r = 0.80; r = 0.96 and r = 0.98) significantly and directly increased onion marketable yield. Bulbs weight gain influenced the yield increases correspondingly 42%, 44% and 45%, increase in diameter – 38%, 44% and 45%. The largest marketable production of short-and long-term storage received applying average complex fertilizers and watered medium rate of water (60 m3 ha-1). Increased marketable yield ensured a higher amount of marketable production.
Source: RURAL DEVELOPMENT 2019
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4399547099