Effect of propagule size and plant density on seedling emergence, yield and quality of garlic (Allium sativum L.)

The production and quality of garlic (Allium sativum L.) depend on agronomics management, physiological and sanitary characteristics of bulbs or bulbils used at sowing, and economic resources. The objective of this assay was to evaluate the effects of garlic bulb and bulbil sizes, and of plant density, on seedling emergence, and garlic bulb yield and quality cv. Taiwan. The garlic bulbs and bulbils classified and selected by size were made from Extra Flor, Gigante and Jumbo garlic bulbs. They were sown at three plant densities (333000, 285710 and 250000 plants/ha) in a split plot experimental design. During garlic growth, the percentage of emergence, garlic bulb yield and garlic quality (measured by bulb size) were evaluated. Plant density affected garlic bulb yield significantly.lhere was greater seedling emergence and quality of bulbs and bulbils when bulb size increased, at the lowest densities. The effects of large or middle size garlic bulbs occurred at 16 days from seedlings emergence. Largest bulb and bulbil sizes increased garlic bulb yield (15.5 t/ha) and quality (15.8 t/ha), as Jumbo or Super Jumbo garlic bulb size. The Extra Gigante garlic bulbs relatively contributed the most to garlic bulb quality by size (15.5 t/ha) to medium and high population densities. However, the best quality of the bulbs Extra Gigante, Jumbo or Super Jumbo depended on the lower plant density, large bulbs, and large or middle bulbil size.