Performance of shallot (Allium cepa var. ascalonicum) derived from true seed under a dry condition area

Abstract

To reduce the dependence of bulbs as planting material, the innovation technology of shallot (Allium cepa var. ascalonicum) cultivation with using true shallot seed (TSS) as planting material was tried. Four cultivars namely Bima Brebes, Trisula, Tuk Tuk, and Sanren were planted at Laleten Village, Malaka District, from April to December 2018. TSS seedlings were raised with a 10x15cm planting spacing or 2,000 plants/30m−2. The aim of this research was to evaluate the using TSS at the shallot cultivation in the areas where the farmers have never carried out such technology. The vegetative growth of all varieties is not significantly different. The productive plants are range from 70 to 75% of population, which the highest was Trisula. The bulbs number/plant highest in Bima Brebes. The number and fresh bulbs weight/bed were 2,293 – 4,601 bulbs and 19.8 – 31.5kgs, respectively. Bulbs weight loss during storage was about 48-65%, which the driest bulbs was Tuk Tuk. The estimated of fresh production was only 5.28 to 8.41 tons/ha. It means that in dry conditions with farmers have not mastered yet on shallot cultivation by using TSS as planting material, the productivity only reaches 20-40% of the production capacity.