The aim of this study was to evaluate the agronomic performance of onions in different planting densities in Mossoró, RN. The experimental design used was a complete randomized blocks in factorial scheme 2 x 5, with four replications. The treatments consisted of the combination of two onion cultivars (Vale Ouro IPA 11 and Bella Dura) and five planting densities (80, 120, 160, 200 and 240 plants m-2). The evaluated characteristics were: classification of bulbs according to the transverse diameter; total, commercial and noncommercial productivity; mean mass of bulb, dry mass of bulb and relative format of bulbs. The most productive cultivar was IPA 11, with total productivity of 26.76 t ha-1. The density that provided the greatest total productivity (30.48 t ha-1) was the 204 plants m-2 and commercial (24.74 t ha-1) was the 161 plants m-2. The increase in density reduced the average of medium and dry bulb mass, bulbs percentage of classes 2 and 3 as well as increased non-commercial yield, percentage of bulbs class 1 (waste) and relation of bulb shape. The cultivar Vale Ouro IPA 11 was superior to the hybrid Bella Dura regarding total bulb yield, average weight of commercial bulbs and format relations, regardless of plant density.
Allium cepa L.; yield; cultivars
