The effect of types of bed and inter-row spacing on yield and quality of onion at Fogera district of South Gondar zone, Ethiopia

Farmers in South Gondar zone were using broadcast transplanting in flatbeds with border ridges to produce onion in the dry season. On the other hand, the research recommendation is to transplant onion seedling in furrow and ridge with double row plantings of 40 cm x 20 cm inter row spacing. This study was therefore initiated to demonstrate to farmers different planting techniques and eventually to observe yield and quality advantages of onion production using furrow and ridge in double rows and flatbed planting methods with various inter row spacing. Thirteen treatments including furrow and ridge planting techniques in double rows (standard check) and flatbeds planting with broadcasting (farmers’ traditional practice) were compared in RCBD with three replications. The result revealed that number of leaves, plant neck diameter, bulb length, bulb diameter; marketable bulb yield, unmarketable bulb yield and total bulb yield were significantly affected by planting techniques. Furrow and ridge planting technique in double rows (standard check) with inter row spacing of 40 cm x 20 cm gave the highest bulb yield (25.88 t/ha), followed by 30 cm x 20 cm (24.32 t/ha) as compared to broadcast transplanting in flatbeds with boarder ridges (farmers’ traditional practice) (18.42 t/ha). It is therefore confirmed that high bulb yield and superior quality was produced from furrow and ridge method in double rows with inter row spacing of 40 cm x 20 cm. Further advice to farmers and large scale demonstration of this practice is thus essential to persuade farmers to enhance shifting from traditional to research recommended planting practice.