Abstract

AGUDELO BECERRA, Maritza Yolima  and  CASIERRA-POSADA, Fanor. EFFECT OF MYCORRHIZAE AND HEN MANURE FERTILIZATION ON YIELD AND QUALITY OF ONION (Allium cepa L. 'YELLOW GRANEX' ). Rev. Fac. Nac. Agron. Medellín [online]. 2004, vol.57, n.1, pp.2190-2204. ISSN 0304-2847.

Under field conditions, the effects of mycorrhizae and hen manure fertilization, compared to the application of mineral fertilizers, were evaluated in terms of yield and quality of onion (Allium cepa L. 'Yellow Granex' ) in the municipality of Cucaita - Boyacá ( Colombia ). The seeds germinated in soil, and 70 days after germination uniformly sized seedlings were selected, transplanted, and were either inoculated or not with mycorrhizal fungi (0,86 ton/ha of Mycofertil).  Three levels of hen manure (0 - 1 and  2 ton/ha) and 0,5 ton of 15 - 15 - 15 mineral fertilizer/ha were evaluated. Yield and production of first and second quality onion bulbs were evaluated, as well as production of non marketable bulbs.  A completely randomized block design was used with three replicates per treatment.  The data were analyzed with Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and a Duncan median comparison test was conducted using a 0.01 significance level.  Results showed that mycorrhizae and manure supply improved the total yield and production of first quality onion bulbs in comparison to supplying mineral fertilizer alone or supplying 1 or 2 ton/ha of hen manure. However, the production of second quality bulbs was higher in plots treated with mycorrhizae in comparison to the other treatments without mycorrhizal fungi. On the other hand, mycorrhizae application reduced the amount of non marketable onion bulbs. The treatment of only mineral fertilizer showed a lower total yield and a lower production of first and second quality onion bulbs, but the highest production of damaged bulbs, in comparison with the other treatments. Results are discussed based upon the increase in nutrient uptake and the suppression of root pathogens in plants colonized by mycorrhizal fungi.

Keywords : Fertilizer; organic matter; mycorrhizae; yield; bulb quality.

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