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

Abstract

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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.