SOWING DATES, POPULATION DENSITIES AND PERFORMANCE OF ONION CULTIVARS (Allium cepa L.) FOR DEHYDRATING IN IRAPUATO, GTO

Abstract

A better knowledge of the onion growth habits as well as its photoperiod and temperature responses in the crop production areas, are basic for designing crop management practices to increase onion yields. Field and industrial yields were evaluated in four onion cultivars developed for dehydration purposes (PVM 3, PVM 7, PVM 56 and PVM 8), two plant densities (296 295 and 592 590 plants/ba) and three planting dates, at Irapuato, State of Guanajuato, México, in 1987. Geminis, a cultivar for fresh consumption was also included in the evaluation. Planling (and trasplanting) dates were on July 19 (Sept. 21), Sept. 3 (Oct. 30) and Oct. 23 (Dec. 18).
A complete randomized block design with three replications in a split plot arrangement was used in each planting date. Cultivars that showed the best adaptation to the climatic conditions as well as the higher commercial bulb yield in the three planting dates were PVM 3 (23.8 to 27.8 ton/ha) and PVM 7 (12.7 to 33.3 ton/ha). The higher commercial bulb yield (22.2 to 25.4 ton/ha) and industrial yield (2.9 to 3.4 ton/ha) were found at the lower plant density. PVM 3 and PVM 7 showed its best yields when planted in Oct. 23.