Onion growth and yield are influenced by transplant tray cell size, and age Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Transplant tray cell size (volume) and age of containerized onion (Allium cepa L. cv. 'Texas Grano 10 15Y') transplants were evaluated for effects on survival, root and shoot growth, yield, and size. Transplant ages of 5, 7, 9, and 11 weeks and cell volume of 6.5 and 20.0 cm3 were used in Florida, and 6, 8, 10 and 12 wk, and 4.0 and 7.1 cm3 were used in Texas. Total yield in Florida was unaffected by transplant age in two planting seasons, but larger size bulb yield increased with increasing transplant age from 5 to 9 wk in 6.5 cm3 cells, and for 11-wk compared to 9-wk transplants in 20.0 cm3 in one season. Seed stem initiation was greatest in bulbs from 11-wk transplants in 20 cm3 cells. Survival in Texas was reduced for 6-wk compared to 8-wk containerized transplants. At planting, root number increased linearly with transplant age. Transplant cell volume in Texas did not affect root number, plant height or leaf number, but shoot dry weight was greater for seedlings grown in 7.1 cm3 cells compared to 4.0 cm3 cells. Total, jumbo and large size transplant yields in Texas were higher for 10 and 12-week transplants in 7.1 cm3 cells and 8, 10 and 12-week in 4.0 cm3 cells than yields in younger transplants. Total yields were unaffected by transplant cell volume but seedlings in 4.0 cm3 cells had a 16% decrease of jumbo size compared to those grown in 7.1 cm3 cells. Larger cell sizes are appropriate for 10-12-week transplants. The use of 8-10-week containerized transplants grown in small cell volume may be viable for onion stand establishment. Younger transplants may produce more large bulb yields if grown in larger cells, but they also have greater risk of reduced survival.

published proceedings

  • SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE

author list (cited authors)

  • Leskovar, D. I., & Vavrina, C. S.

citation count

  • 13

publication date

  • April 1999