Abstract:
Onion is widely cultivated by many small scale farmers and commercial growers for home
consumption and income generation. However, the yield of the crop is not as high as its potential.
Antsokia Gemza Woreda Agriculture Office identified some production constraints of onion.
These include inappropriate pest and disease control practice, the use of very narrow intra-row
spacing, insufficient quality seed supply and improper post-harvest handling. Consequently, an
experimental study was conducted at this Woreda in 2017/18 to improve the production and
productivity of onion using proper variety and intra-row spacing. The treatments were varieties
(Adama Red, Bombay Red, Melkam and Shendi) and intra-row spacing (5, 7.5, 10 and 12.5 cm)
arranged factorially in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications on a
plot with 2.4 m × 1.5 m (3.6 m
2
) size and 1m spacing between blocks and 0.5m between plots.
Data collected from the field was subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and the mean
separation test was done by Least Significant Difference (LSD) test at 5% probability (p) level.
Simple linear correlation analyses were made using Pearson Correlation Coefficient.
Accordingly, Melkam exhibited the highest plant height, bulb diameter, bulb length, bulb dry
matter content, bulb fresh weight, above ground dry biomass weight, total bulb yield and
marketable bulb yield. The narrowest intra-row spacing (5cm) resulted in the highest total and
marketable bulb yield. Correlation coefficient values revealed that higher plant height and leaf
length increased the total and marketable bulb yield due to high plant population density per
hectare at narrower intra-row spacing. Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded
that the productivity of onion at Antsokia Gemza Woreda can be enhanced through cultivating
Melkam variety and applying the narrowest (5cm) intra-row spacing. This variety and intra-row
spacing arrangements can then be recommended for the study area. However, more research is
necessary to determine the stability of the varieties and suitability of the spacing for the diverse
field conditions of the study area because the results are based on one season data
