Comparative Performance of Bulb and Multiplier Onions (AIlium cepa) Under Two Methods of Culture

Abstract

Experimental study was conducted from January 2009 to April 2009 in Naglaoa-an, Sto. Domingo, Ilocos Sur. It aimed to determine the comparative performance of bulb and multiplier onions under two methods of culture and to determine which of the two onion varieties produce the highest yield under two methods of culture. This study had two varietytrials and methods of culture replicated six times and it was laid out using the Split Plot Design (SPD) having two plot sizes, the main plot and the sub plot: Variety I -multiplier onion, Variety 2 - bulb onion as the main plot while Method of Culture I - mulched, Method of Culture 2- furrow as the subplot. Based on the kind on variety of onions harvested, there were significant differences on the initial height. Multiplier onions (OI) exhibited the tallest initial height with a mean of 14.97 cm and bulb onions (02) got a mean of12.80 cm. On the average final height of onion plants, significant differences were also observed. Treatment combination of O2C1 (bulb, with mulch) produced the tallest final height with a mean of 26.63 cm and the least was O1C2 (multiplier, furrow) with a mean of 22.43 cm. As to the average number of bulbs per plot, treatment combination of O1CI (multiplier, with mulch) registered the most mumber of bulbs produced per plot with a mean of69.67 followed by O2C2 (bulb, furrow), O1C2 (multiplier, furrow) and O2CI (bulb, with mulch) with means of 54.33, 43.33 and 37.00 bulbs per plot, respectively. In the computed net income per plot and per hectare, treatment combination O1C1 (multiplier with mulch) produced the highest with Php20,833.30 per hectare. The lowest was produced in O2C1 (bulb with mulch) with a computed net income of Php7,870.30. This was expected because of the very high inputs especially in the cost of bulbs as planting material and rice hay for mulching material.