Bulb Weight Research Articles

Impact of different strains of Bacillus spp. on the bulb production of Tulipa sintenisii Baker

As an ornamental plant, Tulipa sintenisii (Muş tulip) has great potential for potting and cut- flowers in floriculture. However, its low number of bulb production per plant is a major constraint to it becoming one of the common cultivated tulip species. This study was conducted to determine the impacts of 10 Bacillus species on bulb number increase as well as other plant parameters of T. sintenisii in the Mus province of Turkey in the 2020/2021 growing season. Selected, equally sized T. sintenisii bulbs were soaked with Bacillus spp. solution (3.4 × 107 CFU/cm3) for 2 s, and the inoculated bulbs were planted in the experimental field in autumn. The experiment was organized in a completely randomized block design with six replications. The investigated bulb parameters were taken at their physiological maturity. The tulip bulbs treated with Bacillus spp. had higher plant height (28.6 cm), bulb number/plant (2.25), total bulb weight (14.7 g), central bulb weight (13.1 g), central bulb length (40.9 mm), and central bulb diameter (26.8 mm) than the control treatment. The Bacillus strain EZF13 had the highest bulb number while EZF104 had the highest total bulb weight, central bulb weight, central bulb length, and central bulb diameter. These findings suggest that Bacillus treatment has great potential to increase bulb number per plant as well as other bulb parameters of native tulip species T. sintenisii. At the same time, an environmentally friendly production model was put forward without fertilizer application with bacteria application in tulips. At the same time, since the application of bacteria increases the usefulness of plant nutrients in the soil, it can be effective in reducing both the costs and the negative effects of fertilizers on the environment with less fertilizer use.

Harnessing Genetic Diversity And Vigor Of Onion From Multi-generatio Study

This study investigates the genetic variation, vigor, and performance of onion generations resulting from crosses. The experiment was conducted at the Spices Research Centre, Shibganj, Bogura, during 2021-22, following diallel mating design with three parental varieties, BARI piaz1, BARI piaz4, and BARI piaz6. The research focuses on evaluating yield and yield-contributing traits, including bulb dimensions, bulbing index, and individual bulb weight. The results demonstrate significant genetic diversity among onion generations, offering opportunities for the breeders to select and develop superior lines. Hybrid vigor and heterosis, particularly evident in F1 generations, suggest that combining genetically diverse parental lines can lead to progeny with superior performance compared to their parents. However, the choice of parental lines significantly influences the stability and performance of hybrid progeny, with certain varieties demonstrating consistent performance across generations (Parent, F1, F2). Trait segregation and variability within F2 hybrid populations underscore the importance of evaluating large populations to identify individuals with desired trait combinations. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of leveraging genetic diversity and hybrid vigor in onion breeding programs to develop cultivars. By employing breeding strategies the high-performing onion varieties capable of thriving in diverse agro-climatic conditions in onion farming. Bangladesh J. Agri. 2024, 49(2): 31-44

APLIKASI PUPUK ORGANIK CAIR SABUT KELAPA UNTUK MENINGKATKAN HASIL BAWANG MERAH (Allium ascalonium L.)

Coconut husk and waste can be used as liquid organic fertilizer (POC) to improve soil fertility due to the nutrient content contained in coconut coir. The use of coconut fiber as POC needs to be assessed to obtain recommendations for the correct concentration and application interval. This study aimed to examine the effect of coconut fiber POC application on shallot growth and yield, and determine the optimal concentration that can provide the best results. The study used RCBD (Randomized Completely Block Design) in three replications, consisting of two factors. The first factor was the concentration of the coconut fiber POC solution: control, 10%, 20%, and 30%. The second factor is the time interval of coconut fiber POC application, namely 1, 2, and 3 weeks. The variables observed in this study were the number of tillers per clump, number of tubers, fresh weight of tubers, dry weight of tubers, and tuber diameter. Data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at a significance level of 5%. The results showed that applying coconut fiber POC concentrations of 10%, 20%, and 30% increased the number of tillers per clump, dry bulb weight, and diameter of shallot bulbs, but there were no significant differences among the three concentrations. The results of the regression analysis showed that the optimum concentration was in the range of 17%–18.26%. The time interval for applying coconut fiber POC has no significant effect on increasing the number of tillers per clump, the number of bulbs.

Optimizing Shallot Growth through Variations Fertilization NPK and Plant Density

Variations in macronutrient fertilization and spacing are two important components in increasing shallot yield. This study aims to determine the effect of fertilization and plant spacing on shallot yield. A split-plot design with three replications was applied. The main plots were plant spacing (D1: 20 x 20 cm, D2: 20 x 15 cm, D3: 20 x 10 cm); subplots were fertilization of TSP, NPK, KNO3, Urea, and ZA with four doses: F1 by 188, 600, 0, 180, 400 kg ha-1; F2 by 75, 225, 80, 57, 300 kg ha-1; F3 by 100, 300, 107, 76, 400 kg ha-1; and F4 by 125, 375, 135, 95, 500 kg ha-1, respectively. Data was analyzed using the Anova (Analysis of Varians) and Duncan tests. The number of leaves was positively correlated with wet bulb weight per clump (R2 = 86.36%), and dry bulb weight per clump (R2 = 72.40%). The optimum N, P, and K dosages to achieve the optimum relative yield were 126.85; 178.06; 95.25 kg ha-1. The D3F3 interaction (plant spacing of 20x10 cm with TSP, NPK, KNO3, Urea, and ZA fertilization by 100, 300, 107, 76, and 400 kg ha-1, respectively) enhanced the dry bulbs weight per plot by 84.50%.

Genetic Variability and Genetic Advance Studies for Bulb Yield and Its Components of Different Mutant Lines of Garlic (Allium sativum L.)

This study aims to study aims to evaluate the genetic variability and genetic advance for bulb yield and components of different mutant lines of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) under Chhattisgarh plains. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block design with three replications 21 mutant lines viz., IG C-1, IG C-2, IG C-3, local check, IG M-2021-1, IG M-2021-2, IG M-2021-3, IG M-2021-4, IG M-2021-5, IG M-2021-6, IG M-2021-7, IG M-2021-8, IG M-2021-9, IG M-2021-10, IG M-2021-11, IG M-2021-12, IG M-2021-13, IG M-2021-14, IG M-2021-15, IG M-2021-16, IG M-2021-17. Data were analyzed to work out performance of mutant lines, to assess genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance. The character taken under study include plant height (cm), number of leaves, collar height (cm), collar thickness (cm), fourth leaf length (cm), fourth leaf width (cm), polar diameter (cm), equatorial diameter (cm), neck thickness (cm), number of cloves, average weight of bulb (g), TSS, days to maturity, weight of ten outer cloves (g), marketable yield (t ha-1), total yield (t ha-1). Estimates of genetic parameters for various character under study revealed that high genotypic co-efficient of variation was found in general compared to phenotypic co-efficient of variation. Heritability estimates under present investigation ranged from moderate to high. High heritability estimates recorded for collar height, weight of outer ten cloves, marketable yield, total yield. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was recorded for collar height, marketable yield and bulb yield.

노지 채소 경작에서 최적의 재배전략과 생구무게의 예측

Crops grown in open fields are greatly affected by various environmental factors such as climate, temperature changes and precipitation which can significantly influence crop yields depending on cultivation methods and environmental conditions. Therefore, this study proposes cultivation strategies to maximize the yield of onions and garlic along with methods for predicting bulb weight. An experimental site was established at the Allium Crop Research Institute in Muan, where growth characteristics were manually measured, and vegetation indices were acquired using multispectral imaging, along with corresponding bulb weights for both onions and garlic at regular intervals. To predict bulb weight, three predictive models were applied: NFCRM, RFRM, and 1D-CNN+Attention BiLSTM. Comparative analysis of predictive performance showed that NFCRM outperformed the other models, RFRM and 1DCABL, in predicting of the bulb weight of both onions and garlic.

Pengaruh Kombinasi Pupuk Organik Cair Termodifikasi Silika dan Varietas Terhadap Produktivitas Bawang Merah (Allium ascalonicum L.)

Shallot plants (Allium ascalonicum L.) have short roots and soft leaves, potentially susceptible to environmental stress and pest attacks. Fulfillment of nutrients and variety selection as an alternative in increasing shallot production. The research aims to determine the effect of liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) modified silica (Si) and varieties on the productivity of shallot plants. The research was carried out at the Universitas Darussalam Gontor experimental field from November 2023 to January 2024. The research used a split-plot design with 2 factors. First factor: POC modified Si, P1 = POC 5 ml + Si 5 g.l-1, P2 = POC 10 ml + Si 5 g.l-1, P3 = without fertilizer (control). Second factor: variety, V1 = Bima Brebes, V2 = Thailand. Observation parameters were plant height, number of leaves, number of tillers, tuber diameter, wet and dry weight of tubers per plot (1 m-2), and wet and dry weight of the entire plant per plot (1 m-2). The observation data were analyzed using ANOVA and then tested further with 5% BNT. POC 5 ml + Silica 5 g.l-1 treatment increased the number of leaves, tillers, and wet and dry weight of shallot bulbs. The Bima Brebes variety has better plant height and diameter than the Thailand variety which is significantly different, while the number of tillers for the Thailand variety is greater. The Bima Brebes variety fertilized with POC 5 ml + Silica 5 g.l-1 increased the entire shallot plant's wet and dry weight (total bulbs and leaves).

Studies on Effect of Farm Yard Manure and Fertilizers on Growth and Yield of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) cv. G-363

This study was conducted during the winter season of 2020–2021 at the Research Farm of the Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Plant Sciences, Afghanistan National Agriculture Science & Technology University (ANSTU) in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The experiment evaluated the response of garlic (Allium sativum L.) to different applications of NPK fertilizers and their combinations with farmyard manure (FYM) in terms of growth and yield. The experiment included nine treatments, each occupying an area of 2.25 m², arranged in a randomized block design with three replications. Fertilizer treatments included applications of 160:80:80 kg/ha NPK and 140:70:70 kg/ha NPK, along with combinations of these with 10 t/ha and 15 t/ha of FYM. Data analyzed using SAS software revealed that both chemical fertilizers (NPK) and their combinations with FYM significantly influenced growth parameters and yield. The highest plant height (30.02 cm), bulb weight (40.71 g), and average yield (10.69 t/ha) were recorded in treatment T3 (FYM 15 t/ha + 160:80:80 kg/ha NPK). The maximum leaf length (25.19 cm) was observed in treatment T6 (FYM 10 t/ha + 160:80:80 kg/ha NPK). Growth data collected at different intervals (30, 50, 70, 90, and 110 days after sowing) indicated that the maximum leaf length (32.41 cm), number of leaves (8.69), and plant height (40.26 cm) were recorded at 110 days after sowing. Growth and yield parameters were also analyzed across three replications. Among these, replication one (R1) exhibited the best growth parameters, including a leaf length of 25.36 cm, number of leaves of 6.47, and plant height of 30.67 cm. Replication three (R3) showed the highest yield at 9.69 t/ha.

Influence of cultivar and plant density on the growth, bulb yield and quality traits of onion (Allium cepa L.)

Onion is the most important and widely cultivated cash-generating crop in Ethiopia. Onion production is limited by several factors, and its production and productivity are low. Among the many contributing factors, a lack of improved cultivars and improper plant density are the major limiting factors. This study addressed the critical challenges of onion cultivation in Ethiopia, with a focus on the impact of planting density and onion cultivar. Three hybrid onion cultivars and one open-pollinated onion cultivar were evaluated at three testing sites (Koga, Woramit and Woreta) under irrigated conditions in 2021/2022 via a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results of the present study revealed that the growth and yield of onion plants were influenced by the main effects of plant density and onion cultivar across locations. The Russet and Jambar hybrid cultivar, which had a relatively high plant density, exhibited superior performance across all locations. They consistently presented the highest values for bulb diameter, average bulb weight, harvest index, firmness, total bulb yield and marketable bulb yield across all locations. The marketable bulb yield was positively correlated with the bulb weight and bulb diameter of the onion. The Russet (28.09 t ha− 1) and Jambar (26.61 t ha− 1) cultivars presented the highest marketable bulb yields and were generally superior in terms of most of the growth, yield and quality parameters. The highest marketable bulb yield (28.42 t ha− 1) was recorded for the onion cultivars in the higher plant population (666,666 plants ha− 1), in which the spacing was 5 cm × 20 cm × 40 cm between plants, rows and double rows. Accordingly, the use of hybrid onion cultivars (Russet and Jambar) along with higher plant populations (5 cm between plants × 20 cm between rows × 40 cm between double rows) enhances the productivity of onion in the study area and areas with similar agroecology. Since this study was the first of its kind in the study area, it is advisable to consider other hybrid onion cultivars with relatively high plant densities.

Effect of Vermicompost and Bio-stimulants for Improving the Growth, Yield and Quality of Onion (Allium cepa L.)

This experiment was conducted during in rabi season of 2022-23 and 2023-24 at Horticulture Research Center, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Modipuram, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh to study the effect of Vermicompost and Bio-stimulates i.e.beejamrit and jeevamrit for improving the growth, yield and quality of onion. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with 3 replications. Application of Vermicompost 5 Ton + Beejamrit 10% + Jeevamrit 10% Two Spray recorded the maximum number of leaves per plant (5.87), plant height (27.54 cm), leaf length (28.48 cm), crop duration (152.57 days). The maximum bulb weight (6.66 g), yield per plot (31.08 kg), bulb yield (346.35 q/ha), marketable yield per plot (28.39 kg) and marketable yield (310.75 q/ha) recorded under the application of Vermicompost 3 Ton + Beejamrit 10% + Jeevamrit 10% Two Spray. The foliar application of Vermicompost (3ton) with 10% concentration of Beejamrit and Jeevamrit led to improve yield and yield related attributes of onion.

Onion growth, yield and water productivity as influenced by irrigation levels under drip irrigation and plastic mulch

In the current agricultural circumstances, when farmers are struggling to find enough water for irrigation and want to maximize their production by enhancing water productivity, drip irrigation is one of the most important methods. By reducing water and nutrient losses, the application of plastic mulch combined with drip watering can maximize onion yield. A field study was carried out in the Precision Farming Development Center's experimental field at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India, from November to March of two consecutive seasons (2022–23 and 2023–24) to evaluate the optimum water needed to achieve the maximum yield under subsurface drip irrigation. The objective of the study was to determine the optimum crop water requirement for onion under plastic mulch and subsurface drip irrigation. The growth, yield, quality and water productivity response of onion under different level of irrigation using subsurface drip and plastic mulch also studied. The result showed that biometric parameters for onion under 100% irrigation water requirement along with plastic mulch (T2) was greater among all the treatments for both years with plant height (71 cm), number of leaves (13.3), bulb diameter (6.6 cm), bulb weight (126 g) and onion marketable yield (36.7 t/ha). These results were followed by treatment with 80% of water requirement using drip along with mulch. However, the biometric, yield and quality parameters of treatment 80% of water requirement using drip along with mulch were not statistically significant with the treatment 100% of water requirement using drip along with mulch. Therefore, study concluded that the treatment with 80% of water requirement using drip along with mulch might be recommended to achieve statistically on par onion yield in comparison to the yield of treatment T2 using optimum crop water requirement under subsurface drip irrigation and plastic mulch.

Genotype-Driven Phenotype Prediction in Onion Breeding: Machine Learning Models for Enhanced Bulb Weight Selection

Onions (Allium cepa L.) are a globally significant horticultural crop, ranking second only to tomatoes in terms of cultivation and consumption. However, due to the crop’s complex genome structure, lengthy growth cycle, self-incompatibility, and susceptibility to disease, onion breeding is challenging. To address these issues, we implemented digital breeding techniques utilizing genomic data from 98 elite onion lines. We identified 51,499 high-quality variants and employed these data to construct a genomic estimated breeding value (GEBV) model and apply machine learning methods for bulb weight prediction. Validation with 260 new individuals revealed that the machine learning model achieved an accuracy of 83.2% and required only thirty-nine SNPs. Subsequent in silico crossbreeding simulations indicated that offspring from the top 5% of elite lines exhibited the highest bulb weights, aligning with traditional phenotypic selection methods. This approach demonstrates that early-stage selection based on genotypic information followed by crossbreeding can achieve economically viable breeding results. This methodology is not restricted to bulb weight and can be applied to various horticultural traits, significantly improving the efficiency of onion breeding through advanced digital technologies. The integration of genomic data, machine learning, and computer simulations provides a powerful framework for data-driven breeding strategies, accelerating the development of superior onion varieties to meet global demand.

Impact of planting density and nitrogen on the productivity of warm-climate onion in the Mexican pacific

O Objective: To evaluate three population density and nitrogen supply in onion. Design/methodology/approach: An experiment was developed in the dry tropics of Mexico. Seedlings were produced in nursery and transplanted on 0.9 m planting beds. In addition to crop management with drip irrigation, nitrogen nutrition was planned according to the rational form of supply. Density/nitrogen factors were evaluated in factorial design 32. Developmental, productive and qualitative bulb variables were recorded and statistically analyzed. Results: The interaction of factors was varied, but in the productive, only the density factor was consistent; bulb weight excelled in the low density (14.8 plants m2) but did not lead to the highest yield, on the other hand, the highest density together with N supply, presented the highest yield per area of 2.14 and 2.17 kg m2. Limitations on study/implications: Onions are favored by the Mexican population as they are among the most consumed vegetables due to their bulbs, and they are attributed with various health benefits. Approximately 52 thousand hectares are harvested in the country and Michoacan participates with 8.3% of production. However, yields are lower than their potential, due to the lack of adaptation to current environmental conditions. This leads to consider the exploration of alternative locations and the implementation of strategies to improve yields, where nutrition and spacing are key factors. Findings/conclusions: The density of 26.9 plants m2 with N addition produced the highest yield.

Evaluation of White Onion (Allium cepa L.) Genotypes for Growth, Yield, Quality and Resistance to Thrips and Purple Blotch Disease

Onion (Allium cepa L.), belonging to the family Alliaceae with a chromosome number 2n=16, is an essential vegetable widely cultivated for both domestic consumption and export. This study aimed to evaluate various white onion genotypes for their growth, yield, quality and resistance to pests and diseases. The experiment was conducted at the Main Agricultural Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, during the late Kharif season of 2023-24, using twenty-six genotypes arranged in a randomized complete block design. Data were collected on several growth and yield parameters, which were then analyzed. Significant variation was observed among genotypes for growth traits such as plant height, leaf length and neck diameter. The genotype 'Safed Ghavriyu' exhibited the highest plant height and number of leaves per plant, while 'Bhima Shubra' and 'Milky White' showed superior leaf length and neck diameter, respectively. Yield-related traits also varied significantly, with 'Bhima Shweta' recording the highest dry matter content and 'Safed Ghavriyu' demonstrating the highest fresh and dry weight per plant, single bulb weight and total yield per hectare. In terms of pest and disease resistance, notable differences were observed, with 'Safed Ghavriyu' showing the lowest incidence of thrips and purple blotch disease. Additionally, 'PWO-2' had the highest total soluble solids (TSS) content, while 'W-210' had the highest total sugar content. 'Milky White' exhibited the highest pyruvic acid content, contributing to its pungency. These findings underscore the significance of genetic variability and environmental influences in white onion growth and yield. The results offer valuable insights for the development of high-yielding, disease-resistant white onion varieties suited to various agro-climatic conditions in India.

Elucidating the genetic basis of bulb-related traits in garlic (Allium sativum) through genome-wide association study

The genetic architecture of garlic bulb related traits were still not well elucidated due to its big and complex genome. In this study, genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) in 163 garlic accessions mainly from China were conducted. All the 163 garlic accessions were divided into three subpopulations, and largely consistent with geographic origins. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted for 5 garlic bulb related traits across four environments. Totally, 26 significantly loci were identified in two or more environments and located within or near 431 genes, and explain 14.0–31.7 % of the phenotypic variances. Among these, qBW5.1 was nearly with the qBH5.1. Four loci were reported previously, whereas the remaining 22 are likely to be new. Gene ontology enrichment analysis showed that the candidate genes were significantly enriched in metabolic process, biosynthetic process and catalytic activity. Nine candidate genes encode the zinc finger domain-containing protein, serine/threonine-protein kinase, peroxygenase, auxin-induced protein, ethylene-responsive transcription and E3-Ubiquitin protein ligases were identified and validated. Additionally, a meaningful achievement is one kompetitive allele-specific PCR marker, Kasp_chr7_BW for bulb weight were successfully developed and validated in a diverse panel. These results uncover the genetic mechanism of garlic bulb related traits and provide accessions and KASP markers for further garlic molecular breeding.

Combined Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses Reveal the Mechanisms by Which the Interaction Between Sulfur and Nitrogen Affects Garlic Yield and Quality

Nitrogen and sulfur are essential macronutrients in plant growth and development, and their interaction profoundly influences gene expression, metabolic activities, and adaptability in plants, directly affecting plant growth and yield. Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is a crop of significant economic and medicinal value. However, despite the critical role of the nitrogen–sulfur interaction in garlic’s adaptability, yield, and quality, the specific mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. In this study, transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were employed to investigate the effects of combined sulfur and nitrogen application on garlic bulb tissues. The results show that the combined application of sulfur and nitrogen significantly increased the diameter and weight of garlic bulbs by 14.96% and 35.47%, respectively. The content of alliin increased by 28.48%, while the levels of abscisic acid (ABA), jasmonic acid (JA), salicylic acid (SA), and gibberellin (GA) increased by 15.82%, 12.94%, 32.34%, and 48.13%, respectively. Additionally, the activities of alliinase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) were enhanced by 7.93%, 4.48%, and 19.74%, respectively. Moreover, the application of sulfur and nitrogen significantly reduced the malondialdehyde (MDA) content and peroxidase (POD) activity in garlic bulbs by 29.66% and 9.42%, respectively, thereby improving garlic’s adaptability and growth potential. Transcriptomic analysis revealed differentially expressed genes in several key pathways, including plant hormone signal transduction, RNA degradation, glutathione metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis, and glycerophospholipid metabolism. Metabolomic analysis identified 80 differentially abundant metabolites primarily consisting of amino acids, indole carboxylic acids, and fatty acids. The integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses highlighted the pivotal roles of glutathione metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and amino acid biosynthesis pathways in the synergistic effects of sulfur and nitrogen. This study not only provides critical scientific evidence for understanding the mechanisms underlying the nitrogen–sulfur interaction’s impact on the yield and quality of garlic but also offers a scientific basis for optimizing nutrient management strategies to enhance garlic yield and quality.

Effect of micronutrients on growth and bulb production of LA hybrid lilium (Lilium longiflorum) cv. pavia

The experiment was conducted during the 2021–22 at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to determine the effect of micronutrients on the growth and bulb production of LA hybrid lilium cv. pavia. The experiment's findings showed that applying micronutrients topically in combination was more beneficial than doing so topically alone. In contrast, a combination of ZnSO4 + MnSO4 @6 g/litre each sprayed at 40 and 60 days after planting performed better in terms of growth attributes, such as net assimilation rate (4.07 g/m2 leaf area/day), relative growth rate (9.46 mg/g/day), and specific leaf area (46.68 m2/kg). Bulb attributes included number of bulblets/plant (4.60), bulb circumference (14.97 cm), bulblets circumference (3.77 cm), weight of bulb (30.44 g), and bulblets (2.64 g) in LA hybrid lilium cv. pavia, whereas the control group showed the lowest interaction effect levels. This demonstrates that the growth of bulbous ornamental crops such as lilium benefits more from the combined administration of micronutrients. It results from the application of the ideal concentration of micronutrients at regular intervals, which increases photosynthetic rate. These micronutrients help plants accumulate biosynthates through a variety of activities and control metabolic processes that occur in plants. Additionally, they activate enzymes that enhance development and better distribute carbohydrates to various regions of the plant, such as carbonic dehydrogenase, peroxidase, tryptophan synthase, and catalase. Micronutrients are essential for all cellular and metabolic processes, and their optimal utilization enhances the quality of the crop.

Response of Yield of Shallot (<i>Allium ascalonium</i> L.) to Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates and Spacing Under Irrigation at Mulo, Ethiopia

The shallot (<i>Allium ascalonium</i> L.) is one of the important alliaceous crops cultivated in many tropical countries. It is an important horticultural crop used to flavor the local stew "wot" and a source of income for farmers in Ethiopia. However, the productivity of shallot is low at study area due to various limiting factors such as low soil fertility, plant population and lack of improved agronomic practices. A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of intra-row spacing and nitrogen fertilizer levels on growth, yield and quality of shallot at Mulo District, Oromia Regional state, Ethiopia during 2021/22 off season. The treatments consisted of four intra-row spacing (5, 10, 15 and 20) cm and four levels of nitrogen fertilizer (0, 50, 100 and 150) kgNha<sup>-1</sup> tested in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Data on shallot yield was collected. The interaction effect of intra-row spacing and nitrogen fertilizer influenced the marketable yield, unmarketable yield, bulb weight, bulb fresh weight, bulb dry weight, dry matter and total yield. As a result, the treatment combination of 150kgha<sup>-1</sup> nitrogen and 15cm intra-row spacing yielded the highest net benefit of shallot (Eth-Birr 1,012,274), followed by the treatment combination of 150kgha<sup>-1</sup> nitrogen and 20 cm intra-row spacing. In conclusion, the above findings indicated that the combined application of 150kgNha<sup>-1</sup> with 15 cm spacing can improve shallot growth and productivity in the Mulo district area. However, more research needs to be done in different seasons and locations, taking into account the application rate of nitrogen fertilizer and different intra-row spacing, to generate more reliable information.

The effects of applying poultry waste and coconut shell biochar on the growth and production of shallots (Allium ascalonicum L.)

Abstract The growing request for shallots, driven by increasing consumer needs, has not been matched by stable production levels. This study investigated the effects of the application of poultry waste and coconut shell biochar on shallot growth and production. Two factors were evaluated, including poultry waste with various doses of 0, 10, 20, and 30 tons/ha and coconut shell biochar with diverse doses of 0, 10, 20, and 30 tons/ha, with three replications for each treatment. Duncan Multiple Range test at a 5% significance level was performed for the statistical analysis. The yields indicated that giving 30 tons/ha of poultry waste significantly enhanced plant length and bulb count per plant. Additionally, 1The giving of 10 tons/ha of biochar significantly improved plant length, leaf number, wet bulb weight per sample, dry bulb weight per sample, and wet bulb weight per plot. However, the combination of poultry waste and coconut shell biochar did not yield significant improvements in shallot growth and production. This study highlights the potential of poultry waste and biochar as effective soil amendments for shallot cultivation while also noting the limited impact of their combined application.

Benchmarking Bulb Yield, Medicinal Sulfur Compounds, and Mineral Nutrition of Garlic Varieties.

Garlic is widely cultivated for both its culinary and medicinal properties. Bulb yield, organosulfur compounds, and plant mineral nutrition of 32 garlic varieties were characterized. Across genotypes, there was large variability in bulb weight and alliin and allicin concentrations. The mineral concentration of a reference leaf was strongly positively correlated with bulb weight (for Zn, N, and K) and bulb allicin concentration (for S, Mo, and Cu). Alliin represented ∼61 and 88% of the total clove S content. In situ synchrotron-based X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) analysis identified two dominant S compounds, γ-l-glutamyl-S-allyl-l-cysteine and alliin. Stoichiometric studies showed the ratio of conversion of alliin to pyruvate was consistently below the theoretical 1:1 ratio, while the ratio for conversion of alliin to allicin was consistently higher (∼1.9:1 to 3.5:1). A combination of optimized fertilizer management and genotype selection for high alliin can potentially substantially increase the yield and medicinal quality of garlic.