Growth and yield response of pot-grown shallots to water stress in a glasshouse Experiment

Abstract

Severe edaphic stress adversely affects the general performance of shallots (Allium cepa L. var. ascalonicum cv. Tropix.) This study was conducted to determine the effect of water stress on the growth and yield of shallots under 12-h daylength. Pot-grown shallots in a glasshouse were subjected to four levels of water stress, viz., flooded, regular watering, and watering up to half and quarter the field capacity (pot water-holding capacity = 373 g) of the root medium. Flooded shallots recorded the highest growth rate, leaf area, and green leaf number. Regularly watered and flooded shallots had the highest relative water contents of leaf tissue. Number of bulbs and axillary buds were not significantly (P>0.05) different in all the treatments despite the stress. The highest harvest index and bulb yield were, however, obtained in the regularly watered shallots. Water stress, thus, adversely affected shallot growth, maturation, and bulb yield under 12-h photoperiod, although tissue water content was relatively high.


Ghana Jnl agric. Sci. Vol.31(1) 1998: 61-65