Abstract

COCA C., ALEJANDRO; CARRANZA, CARLOS E.; MIRANDA, DIEGO  and  RODRIGUEZ, MARLON H.. NaCl effects on growth, yield and quality parameters in the onion (Allium cepa L.) under controlled conditions. rev.colomb.cienc.hortic. [online]. 2012, vol.6, n.2, pp.196-212. ISSN 2011-2173.

The experiment was conducted during the first semester of 2010 in the greenhouses of the Agronomy Faculty, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogota, with 21°C and 60% for the average temperature and relative humidity, respectively. The effect of increasing NaCl concentrations in the irrigation water, 0, 30, 60 and 90 mM (electrical conductivity of 0, 3, 6 y 9 ±0.2 dS m^-1, respectively), was evaluated for growth, yield and quality parameters in onion bulbs (var. Yellow Granex) in a completely randomized design with four replications. Increasing levels of NaCl generated earlier development, expressed in rapid accumulation of dry mass (DM) in early stages of growth, with implications for both physiological and commercial development of the bulb. Significant differences were evident from the bulb stage on, for height, leaf number and pseudostem diameter of the plant. Furthermore, there was a reduction, as compared to the control treatment, of 31%, 53% and 70% for total DM; 44%, 53% and 71% for shoot DM; 28%, 49% and 74% for bulb DM; 12%, 25% and 43% for bulb diameter; and 30%, 52% and 78% for bulb fresh mass with the 30, 60 and 90 mM NaCl levels, respectively. Finally, increased levels of NaCl were directly correlated with an increase in total soluble solid values and a decrease in pyruvic acid content, which resulted in bulbs with a sweeter and less pungent taste.

Keywords : salinity; irrigation water; growth analysis; pungency.

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