Influence of Low Storage Temperature and Gibberellic Acid Treatments on Growth and Yield of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) at Haramaya, Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

The effects of pre planting cloves treatment with Gibberellic acid (GA3) plant hormone and cold temperature storage duration to improve growth and yield of garlic (Allium sativum L.), was investigated  during  2013/2014  production year at Haramaya Eastern Ethiopia under rain- fed and irrigation condition. Randomized complete block design was used with four GA3 concentration (0, 125, 250 and 375 ppm) and three cold storage (7°C) durations (10, 20, and 30 days) with three replications. The interaction effect of GA3 and cold storage duration were highly significantly increased on yield and growth traits. Treatment GA3 125 ppm for 20 days of cold storage duration recorded the greatest increased in garlic plant height (53.76 cm), leaf width (1.31 cm), bulb width (4.96 cm), neck diameter (1.60 cm), mean bulb weight (25.40 g), harvest index (0.76), total bulb yield (8.38 t/ha) and marketable yield (8.05 t/ha). Bulb size distribution in weight (8.86 g) and number (4.61) on large cloves were significantly increased at treatment GA3 125 ppm with 20 days of cold storage duration. Unmarketable garlic clove weight was influenced at treatments of GA3 375 ppm in all levels of storage duration. The whole result analysis showed that optimum growth performance and good bulb yield of garlic was obtained from treatment of 125 ppm GA3 with 20 days of cold storage duration.