Correlation analysis of bulb yield with growth and yield components of garlic (Allium sativum L.)

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted under irrigation at the Institute for Agricultural Research (I.A.R) Kadawa in the Sudan Savanna zone of Nigeria during 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 (Nov- Mar) dry seasons to study the relationship among growth, yield components and bulb yield of garlic (ex- Kofa var). Growth parameters studied included plant height, number of leaves, total dry matter, crop growth rate (CGR), relative growth rate (RGR) while the yield parameters studied included fresh bulb weight, cured bulb weight, bulb diameter, number of cloves/bulb, weight of cloves and cured bulb yield (kg/ha). Results obtained showed a significant and positive correlation between total bulb yield per hectare and growth as well as the other yield characters except RGR in  2007/2008 trial and CGR as well as the number of cloves in 2008/2009 trial. However, for the combined analysis, CGR, RGR and number of cloves were found not have positive correlation with the bulb yield. These characters should therefore, not be aimed at if the aim is to increase/ improve yielding ability of garlic

Key Words: Correlation, Kadawa, Sudan Savanna, Garlic,  Irrigation, growth and yield components.