Yield and quality of densely cultivated onion cultivars as function of nitrogen fertilization

Francisco Das C Gonçalves,Jandeilson P Dos Santos,Leilson C Grangeiro,Luiz R R Da Silva,Valdivia De F L De Sousa,Francisco I De Souza

doi:10.1590/1807-1929/agriambi.v23n11p847-851

Francisco Das C Gonçalves, Jandeilson P Dos Santos + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1590/1807-1929/agriambi.v23n11p847-851

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Abstract

ABSTRACT Nitrogen exerts a marked influence on the yield and quality of the onion. The present work was developed from June to October 2016, aiming to evaluate the yield and quality of two cultivars of onion under a system densified as a function of nitrogen doses in Mossoró, RN, Brazil. A randomized block design was used in a 2 x 7 factorial scheme, with four repetitions, corresponding to two cultivars (IPA 11 and Rio das Antas) and seven nitrogen doses (0, 45, 90, 135, 180, 225 and 270 kg ha-1 of N), provided by fertigation, with four repetitions. The dose of 92 kg ha-1 of N provides the highest total and marketable yields of bulbs. Nitrogen fertilization increases the concentrations of N, chlorophyll a, b and total in the leaves of the onion, as well as the percentage of bulbs of classes 3 and 4 and the pungency, reducing the percentage of bulbs of class 2 and non-commercial. The doses of 108 and 82 kg ha-1 of N provide the highest rates of return for ‘IPA 11’ (R$ 2.07) and ‘Rio das Antas’ (R$ 2.41), respectively.

Highlights

IntroductionOnion yield in the Northeast region is only 28,954 kg ha-1, much lower than the averages obtained in the Southeast and Midwest regions, 44,332 and 46,354 kg ha-1, respectively (IBGE, 2017)
Onion is cultivated in all regions of Brazil, with more than 58,000 ha planted in 2016, resulting in a production of 1,657,441 t and an estimated income exceeding 1.85 billion reais (IBGE, 2017).Despite recent advances, onion yield in the Northeast region is only 28,954 kg ha-1, much lower than the averages obtained in the Southeast and Midwest regions, 44,332 and 46,354 kg ha-1, respectively (IBGE, 2017)
Yield and quality of densely cultivated onion cultivars as function of nitrogen fertilization and 4, titratable acidity (TA) and pungency (PUNG)

Summary

Introduction

Onion yield in the Northeast region is only 28,954 kg ha-1, much lower than the averages obtained in the Southeast and Midwest regions, 44,332 and 46,354 kg ha-1, respectively (IBGE, 2017) Such low yield in the Northeast region is related to the low technological level adopted by most onion producers, as well as to the quantities and forms of the nutrients applied. The official recommendations of nitrogen fertilization for onion have varied among Brazilian states and consider basically a plant population of, at most, 500,000 plants per hectare and conventional application. In the São Paulo state, Brazil, nitrogen recommendation has varied from 80 to 120 kg ha-1 in the seedling transplanting system and from 80 to 160 kg ha-1 in the no-tillage system. For Minas Gerais state, Brazil, the recommendation is 120 kg ha-1, whereas for Pernambuco state, Brazil, it is 150 kg ha-1 (Factor et al, 2018)

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