Growth, yield, and yield variables of onion (Allium Cepa L.) varieties as influenced by plantspacing at DambiDollo, Western Ethiopia

Abstract

Onion (Allium cepa L.) is an important bulb plant grown worldwide. Proper use of the agronomic practice has undoubtedly contributed to growing crop yields. The right level of any farming practice, like the distance between plants, plant density, date of planting, and time of harvest, can produce the wanted outcomes. Therefore, this research was piloted to evaluate the influence of plant spacing on the development of bulb harvest-related traits of onion varieties in Dambi Dollo University, Western Ethiopia, in 2021. Three onion varieties (Adama red, Monarch, Nafis) and four intra-row spaces (6 cm, 8 cm, 10 cm, and 12 cm) in factorial combinations were settled by a complete randomized block design which was simulated three times. The findings of the study indicate that all the factors related to crop growth and bulb yield of onion varieties were mainly influenced by different kinds and plant spacing. Conversely, the collaboration of these two factors did not affect all other factors, but the interaction of the two factors had a great effect on the days to maturity measured in this study. The highest plant height was registered on the onion planted at a distance of 10 cm (59.83 cm) and 12 cm (59.08 cm) distance between plants. The high commercial yields (34.44 t ha−1) and entire bulb yield (35.40 t ha−1) were found in the Nafis variety. The highest marketable yields (31.12 ha−1) and entire marketable yield (31.78 ha−1) were recorded on an onion plant planted 10 cm between plants. Therefore, in the research area, farmers can use a variety of Nafis and a 10 cm distance between plants to increase their onion production.