Effect of Plant Spacing on Onion (Allium cepa L.) Seeds Quality

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of plant spacing on onion seed quality, The experiments were executed at the nursery of Horticulture Administration, Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources and the labouratory of the Agricultural Research Station , Northern State, Sudan, in two successive seasons (2010-2011and 2011-2012). In the nursery the bulbs of cultivar "Bafetaim (s)" were planted on both sides of 70cm ridges at 2.5, 5, 10 and 12.5 cm within ridge spacing. The cultural practices were followed as recommended till seed harvest. The experimental units were in completely randomized block design with four replications. After harvest the seeds were tested directly for germination (germination percentage, rate and uniformity) in petri dishes and emergence(emergence percentage, rate and uniformity) in soil in plastic seeds were again tested for germination after one and two years storage in paper bags at room temperature. All seed tests experiments were in completely randomized design with three replications. The results showed that the widest spacing had positive effects on germination and emergence percentage and rate. The closest spacing had positive effects on germination and emergence uniformity as well as ageing or deterioration rate. It could be concluded that closer plant spacing has no significant effect on onion seed quality moreover, it may reduce ageing rate during storage under normal storage conditions. However, the closest within row spacing (2.5 and 5cm) might be tedious and labourious compared to medium ones (10 cm). So medium within row spacing (10 cm) could be recommended for high onion seed yield (data not shown) and quality in the Northern State, Sudan and areas of similar environmental conditions.