GROWTH AND PRODUCTION OF SOWED ONION AND TRANSPLANTED TO DIFFERENT DATES, AGES AND SIZES

Abstract

Onion (Allium cepa L.) is the second most important horticultural crop grown in Delicias, Chih., where bulb production techniques have not yet been defined. Because these are key aspects of this crop, some combinations of the following factors were studied during three years: planting date on the seed bed, from August 22 through November 3; age of trasplant from 50 to 125 days, and trasplant seedling size, of 2, 3 and 4 true leaves. Plants of late sowing dates and older trasplant age decreased foliage growth in 11 to 18% and yield in 5 to 15% for each 10 days delay; likewise, stages and phases of growth were shortened and delayed. The larger the seedling size at trasplanting, the more the vegetative growth and yield were obtained; however, in early planting dates, such as August 22, an increase in the number of flowered plants and a decrease in total yield were observed. Faster growth of foliage ocurred al the 5 to 7 true leaves stage, while the faster bulb growth happened at 8 to 9 true leaves.