The effect of different plant spacing was evaluated on yield and storage characteristics of onion bulbs. The experiment was carried out from September 1999 to March 2000, in Pernambuco State, Brazil, in a randomized complete block design, in a 2 x 3 factorial scheme, with four replications. The cultivar Alfa Tropical was planted at 0.10 and 0.15 m row spacing and at 0.10; 0.15 and 0.30 m plant spacing. A linear reduction was found for commercial yield when plant spacing increased, the highest yield being obtained with 0.10 m spacing. A linear reduction in noncommercial bulbs was found as the spacing between rows and between plants was increased. Bulbs fresh weight increased linearly as the spacing between rows and between plants increased. Larger percentage of small and medium bulbs was obtained in the narrowest spacing. As spacing between plants increased, a larger lose of onion bulb weight was found up to 60 days of storage. According to the results, the spacing 0.10 x 0.10 m or 0,15 x 0.10 m are recommended as the more adapted for the cultivation of onion cultivar Alfa Tropical, in the São Francisco Valley conditions, for the summer season planting.
Allium cepa; yield; fresh mass of bulb; planting density; bulb mass fresh loss
