The effect of plant density on bulb quality and yield of spring garlic (Allium sativum).

The research on the effect of plant density on bulb quality and yield of spring garlic domestic cultivar ‘Labud’ was carried out in two-year field experiment (2009 and 2010). Spring garlic is planted in five densities: 300000 plants ha-1 (G1), 450000 plants ha-1 (G2), 600000 plants ha-1 (G3), 750000 plants ha-1 (G4) and 900000 plants ha-1 (G5). The present paper shows the results of garlic yield and its components (number of cloves per bulb, clove and bulb mass). The average bulb mass was 16.54 g, the lowest value was recorded at G4 density (13.73 g) and the highest one at G1 (21.23 g). The average two-year garlic yield was 9100 kg ha-1. The lowest yield per hectare was achieved at G1 plant density (6228 kg), and the highest one in the densest planting G5 (12547 kg). The plant density positively influenced the yield and quality of spring garlic. Considering the densest plantings the yield was the highest, but the bulb quality was the lowest. Spring garlic bulbs of high quality and good yield were produced at plant density of 600000 plants per hectare.