Onion productivity in fertigated system under different nitrogen levels and population densities

ABSTRACT

On onion, several studies have confirmed that the population density and nitrogen fertilization should be considered to combine quality and productivity. The experiment aimed to evaluate the effect of nitrogen by fertigation under different population densities on yield and postharvest losses of onion bulbs at Alto Vale do Itajaí, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. Two experiments were carried out, in 2011 and 2013, with Bola Precoce cultivar, over an Haplumbrept soil at Ituporanga, Santa Catarina State. The treatments included four plant densities (300, 400, 500 and 600 plants/ha) and five doses of nitrogen (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg/ha N), distributed by fertigation. Sowing was carried out on 2011/04/25/ and 2013/04/19, transplanting on 2011/07/25 and 2013/07/12 and harvest on 2011/11/25 and 2013/11/21. Commercial yields (total, Cx2, Cx3 and Cx3+), N content in half the cycle, flowering (%) and postharvest losses (%) were evaluated: the highest total commercial yields of 55.1 and 58.3 t/ha were reached with doses of 129.0 and 161.3 kg/ha N, respectively. Increasing doses of N reduces the formation of Cx2 bulbs. The highest Cx3 yield (25.6 to 39.3 t/ha) was obtained with populations of 500 to 600 thousand plants/ha and doses of 126.1 to 135.9 kg/ha N. Increased population density reduces the Cx3+ productivity. The highest Cx3+ (49.6 to 54.4 t/ha) was achieved with doses of 126.3 and 156.7 kg/ha N. To cultivate Bola Precoce can be considered appropriate, in the middle of the cycle, foliar nitrogen content in the range of 23.0 to 34.0 g N/kg. The increase of nitrogen levels contributes to increase blooming, but does not influence the postharvest losses.

Keywords:
Allium cepa; no-tillage system; foliar nitrogen; flowering; postharvest.