Evaluation of True Seed Shallot Varieties for Yield and Yield Components

Dasta Tsagaye,Fekadu Gebretensay,Awoke Ali,Demis Fikre,Gizaw Wegayehu,Nimona Fufa

doi:10.11648/j.ajpb.20210601.13

Abstract

Shallot (Allium cepa var. ascalonicum Backer) is an important vegetable crop cultivated by smallholder farmers for consumption and income generation in Ethiopia. However, scarcity of high yielding varieties as well as lack of superior planting material seriously constrains productivity of the crop. Research project was initiated aiming at studying adaption of true seed shallot for yield and components. A series of experiments were conducted using the randomized complete block design to identify the appropriate variety for production of bulb yield. The combined analysis of variance results for marketable bulb yield (kg/plot), unmarketable bulb yield (kg/ha), total bulb yield (kg/plot) and total bulb yield (t/ha). The results showed that the mean squares for main factors of genotype and year as well as interaction of genotypes x year were significant for marketable bulb yield (kg/plot). The overall marketable yield range of the shallot varieties was from 256.56- 171.49qtha<sup>-1</sup> and the average number of splits per plants ranged from 8- 4.72. Improved Minjar shallot variety showed its superiority in marketable bulb yield (kg/plot), total bulb yield (kg/plot) and total bulb yield (t/ha) yields as compared to other varieties. Therefore, as there was no significant yield advantage between these varieties from true seed study area, so the experiment could be repeated across locations to come up with good conclusion for recommendation.

Highlights

Shallot (Allium cepa var ascalonicum Baker) is an important vegetable crop cultivated in many tropical countries as a substitute for bulb onions (Allium cepa L. var cepa) [1]
Analysis of variance was computed for bulb yield and number of splits per plant over years
The results showed that the mean squares for main factors of genotype and year as well as interaction of genotypes x year were significant for marketable bulb yield

Summary

Introduction

Shallot (Allium cepa var ascalonicum Baker) is an important vegetable crop cultivated in many tropical countries as a substitute for bulb onions (Allium cepa L. var cepa) [1]. Farmers in tropical countries preferred shallots than onion for its ability to propagate vegetatively, shorter growth cycle, better tolerance to disease and drought stresses and longer storage life than the common onion and for their distinct flavor that persists after cooking [2, 3]. Shallot (Allium cepa L. aggregatum group) is the favourite and a widely grown condimental crop in Ethiopia It is used daily in almost every house as a seasoning spice in the preparation of local dishes such as Wot (a stew) eaten with Injera (Ethiopian fluffy bread) [6]. Shallot is preferred for its shorter growth cycle, better tolerance to disease and drought stresses and longer storage life than the common onion and for its distinct flavor that persists after cooking. In Ethiopia, the production of shallot was 132424.68 ton in 14758.51 ha of land with an average yield of 8.97 t ha-1 [7] which is lower as compared to the world average of 18.8 ton ha-1 [8]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion