Responses of Garlic (Allium Sativum L.) to Varying Fertilization Levels and Nutrient Ratios

Abstract

Garlic can be considered a typical vegetable crop in Hungary, mostly produced on relatively small family farms. Farmers often find it difficult to develop profitable production, and there are still several important questions to be solved, including effective plant protection and nutrient management. A pot experiment was carried out under greenhouse conditions to study the responses of garlic to varying fertilizer sources and nutrient ratios in 15 treatment combinations. Three increasing levels of N‐P2O5‐K2O having a ratio of 1∶0.5∶1.2 with additions of Ca, Mg, S, or CaCO3 were studied in four replicates. Three garlic cloves were planted in pots containing 2 kg of a meadow soil from southeastern Hungary (Fluvaquentic Endoaquoll) having low levels of available nutrients. Plants were grown for 191 days DAP (up to the growth stage of five to seven leaves per plant). At harvest, average plant height, fresh and dry matter (DM) production, shoot to root ratios of plants, as well as nutrient concentrations (macro‐ and microelements) were determined. From the results of the experiment, it was evident that favorable effects of plants to increasing nutrient levels could be observed. Responses of garlic showed relatively high nutrient requirements of plants at the early vegetative period. Highest DM of shoots and roots were obtained with the N3P3K3S3 treatment (226.1 and 204.6% of the control). On the other hand, higher rates of chloride had an unfavorable effect both on fresh and DM weight of plants. Nutrient concentrations also responded to variable fertilizer rates and ratios. Nitrogen concentrations showed similarities to sufficiency ranges found in literature. These values may be used for diagnostic purposes.