The effect of different planting spacing was observed on the yield characteristics and the postharvest conservation of onion bulbs. The experiment was carried out from April to November/1998, in Petrolina, Pernambuco State, Brazil. The experimental design was of randomized complete blocks in a 2 x 3 factorial scheme, with four replications. The cultivar Franciscana IPA-10 was planted in 0.10 and 0.15 m between row spacing and in 0.10; 0.15 and 0.30 m within row spacing. Highest marketable yield (39.30 t/ha) was obtained form 0.10 m between row spacing as compared to the row spacing of 0.15 m (37.67 t/ha). A negative linear effect for yield was verified, when increasing the within-row spacing, with the 0.10 m within row spacing showing the highest yield (42.88 t/ha). The smallest yield of unmarketable bulbs (refuses) was observed for 0.29 and 0.26 m within-row spacing, respectively, for the row spacings of 0.10 and 0.15 m. The bulb fresh weight increased linearly when increasing the spacing inside the row. Larger percentage of small and medium bulbs was observed in the smallest spacings. After harvest, greater reduction in bulb weight was observed when increasing the within-row plant spacing.
Allium cepa; yield; fresh weight of bulb; planting density; weight loss of bulbs
