Direct onion sowing under soil tillage methods

ABSTRACT Onion production is conditioned to the adopted techniques during the cultivation. Sowing depth, soil preparation and cultivars are determinant factors for productivity to be increased. Two experiments were developed, the first with the objective of evaluating the effect of sowing depths and soil preparation methods on the germination and development of onion seedlings, while the objective of the second was to evaluate the productivity of onion cultivars as a soil preparation function. In experiment I, the split plot scheme was adopted, where the main plots consisted on soil tillage methods (total area and bed) and in the subplots, the sowing depths (0.5; 1.0; 1.5 and 2.0 cm), with six replicates. Experiment II was carried out in a split plot scheme, in which the main plots consisted on soil tillage methods (total area and bed) and in the subplots, such as onion cultivars (Itajubá, Rainha, Salto Grande, Ômega, Mulata and BR29), with four replicates. The 1.5 cm sowing depth provided greater speed of germination and plant stand. Raising beds offers the best initial seedling development. The onion cultivation under beds offers the highest vegetative development and productivity.