Horticulture

Optimization of Production and Postharvest Practices for Enhanced Yield, Quality and Shelf-Life of Onion (Allium Cepa L.) in Northwest Ethiopia

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Optimization of Production and Postharvest Practices for Enhanced Yield, Quality and Shelf-Life of Onion (Allium Cepa L.) in Northwest Ethiopia Yeshiwas, Yebirzaf Onion is an economically important cash crop in Ethiopia and the Amhara Region, which is widely produced under irrigation condition to meet year-round market demand. Despite its importance, however, onion production faces challenges such as low productivity due to a lack of improved varieties with extended shelf life, improper fertilization practices, suboptimal plant density. Studies were conducted in 2021–2023 in North Mecha (Koga), Bahir Dar Zuria (Woramit), and Fogera (Woreta) districts to assess farmers' knowledge and management practices, identify key supply chain constraints, and optimize nitrogen fertilizer rates and plant populations to enhance onion growth, yield, and quality. The study combined a field experiment and a survey. Field experiments were laid out in a factorial arrangement using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The survey result showed that onion production is dominated by adults households, but faces challenges of input shortages, high costs, and postharvest losses. Seven alternative marketing channels were identified, involving key actors such as farmers, local collectors, brokers, transporters, wholesalers, retailers, and consumers. The majority of the produce (66.15%) was sold to wholesalers. However, producers received only a small share of the final consumer price, while experiencing the highest average postharvest losses among all actors in the supply chain. Similarly, the experimental study indicate that onion growth and yield are significantly influenced by planting density, variety, and nitrogen fertilizer rate across growing location. Hybrid varieties (Russet and Jambar) consistently exhibited superior performance, achieving the highest bulb diameter, weight, harvest index, firmness, total yield, and marketable yield under the planting density of 666,666 plants ha 22 -1 across all locations. Russet and Jambar recorded the highest marketable yields of 28.54 t ha -1 and 26.61 t ha , respectively. Planting at higher densities (666,666 plants ha -1 ) with a spacing of 40cm x 20cm x 5cm between double rows, rows, and plants respectively resulted in the highest marketable yield (28.42 t ha -1 ). Moreover, the application of 82 kg ha -1 nitrogen fertilizer further enhanced growth and yield parameters, with Russet and Jambar achieving yields of 26.50 t ha -1 and 24.57 t ha -1 , respectively, across locations. The hybrid varieties (Russet and Jambar) and optimal nitrogen application rate (82 kg ha -1 ) also provided the highest net benefits. Postharvest quality was significantly influenced by packaging materials, nitrogen fertilizer, and variety. Proper handling allowed onions to be stored for up to one month without significant losses, regardless of the packaging materials used. Russet and Jambar varieties, when produced with optimum nitrogen fertilizer rate and stored on locally constructed shelves exhibited delayed sprouting, minimal decay, lower weight loss, and better firmness. In contrast, Bombay Red and Red Coach varieties showed higher storage losses. The study recommends for producers and traders in the study area, as well as similar to agro-ecologies adopt Russet and Jambar varieties, combined with higher planting densities and 82 kg ha -1 nitrogen fertilizer for improved onion. Storing bulbs on shelves until market conditions improved can contribute to a sustainable onion supply chain. Furthermore, the study found that pre-harvest treatments, such as toppling at 90% neck fall, improved postharvest storage. Onions of Jambar and Russet varieties were able to be stored for up to four weeks without significant loss. The study underscores the need for further exploration, particularly to evaluate various hybrid onion varieties at high plant density levels. The investigation of phosphorus fertilizer is also recommended for -1 future research, and since the study's limitation to a single season and location, further research is needed to test and to validate these findings across multiple locations and repeated years.

Effects of Nitrogen Fertilizer on the Growth, Yield and Quality Traits of Hybrid Onion (Allium Cepa L.) Varieties at Koga Irrigation Scheme, North Western Ethiopia

2023-02-01T00:00:00Z

Effects of Nitrogen Fertilizer on the Growth, Yield and Quality Traits of Hybrid Onion (Allium Cepa L.) Varieties at Koga Irrigation Scheme, North Western Ethiopia Yezihalem Getaneh Onion is one of the most important vegetable crops in Koga Irrigation Scheme which is mainly produced by small holder farmers. However, the yield of the crop is constrained by several factors. Limited availability of improved varieties and inappropriate application of nitrogen fertilizer are among the major constraints of onion production. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted at Koga Irrigation Scheme during the 2022 Irrigation season to evaluate the effects of nitrogen fertilizer on the growth, yield and quality of hybrid onion varieties and to determine the optimum nitrogen fertilizer for economical production of onion varieties. The treatments consisted of four onion varieties (Red coach, Russet, Jambar and Bombay red) and four levels of nitrogen (0, 41, 82 and 123kg ha -1 ). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design in a factorial arrangement with three replications. Growth, yield and quality parameters were collected and the analysis of variance for the collected data was performed by using SAS (version 9.4) software. The results of the study indicated that the main effect of varieties and nitrogen fertilizer very highly significantly affected stand count, days to bulb maturity, plant height, leaf length, leaf number, bulb neck diameter, bulb length, harvest index, total soluble solid and bulb dry matter contents. The interaction effects of varieties and nitrogen fertilizer highly significantly influenced the bulb weight, bulb diameter, marketable bulb yield and total bulb yield of onion. The highest marketable bulb yield (57.84 t ha ), bulb weight (165.87g) and bulb diameter (7.89cm) was obtained from the interaction of Russet variety with 82 kg N ha -1 . However, the lowest marketable yield (21.74 t ha ) was obtained from Bombay red variety with control treatments. Based on the partial budget analysis, the highest net benefits (969884.8 Birr ha -1 ) and the highest marginal rate of return (2007.50%) were recorded from Russet variety with 82 kg ha vi -1 nitrogen fertilizer. Therefore, Russet variety with 82 kg N ha -1 is recommended for the production of onion for Koga Irrigation Scheme. As the results are limited to one season and location, further studies over multiple locations and seasons are necessary to establish sustainable recommendations.

Effects of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Rates on Growth and Yield of Lettuce (Lettuce Sativa L.) Under Irrigation Condition in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

2025-08-01T00:00:00Z

Effects of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Rates on Growth and Yield of Lettuce (Lettuce Sativa L.) Under Irrigation Condition in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia Sefinew Shibabaw Lettuce is the most popular salad and cash leafy vegetable with rising demand in urban and peri-urban areas of Ethiopia. However, the crop is neglected in relation to research in soil fertility management and thus its productivity remains very low. Therefore, this experiment was initiated to evaluate the effect of nitrogen and phosphorus rates on growth and yield component of lettuce. The study was conducted in 2025 under irrigation at Zenzelima Campus of Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. The experiment consisted 5*4 factorial combination of five nitrogen levels (0, 46, 92, 138 and 184 kg ha N), and four phosphorus levels (0, 23, 46 and 92 kg ha -1 P 2 O 5 ) using Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Data on the growth and yield parameters of lettuce were collected and analyzed using R software. The result indicated that the main effects of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer rates were significantly (P < 0.001) influenced plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf length and leaf width of lettuce. The interaction effects of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer rates also significantly (P < 0.001) influenced days to maturity, fresh weight of leaf per plant, marketable fresh leaf yield and total fresh leaf yield of lettuce. Accordingly, increased application of nitrogen (0 – 184 kg ha N) and phosphorus rates (0 – 92 kg ha -1 P 2 O 5 ) enhanced plant height, number of leaves, leaf length and width of lettuce plants in their main effects. Moreover, the highest fresh weight of leaf per plant (330.59 g), highest marketable fresh leaf yield (19.57 t ha -1 ) and total fresh leaf yield (20.90 t ha ) of lettuce plants were recorded in response to the combined application of 184 kg ha -1 N with 92 kg ha . The partial budget analysis revealed that the highest net benefits of 241,070ETB ha -1 with acceptable MRR (190.51%) were obtained in response to application of 138 kg ha -1 N with 92 kg ha -1 which can be recommended for economical production of lettuce under irrigation condition in study area. The experiment is limited to one location and season, repetition of the study in multi-location and season is recommended. -1 -1 P 2 P 2 O 5 O 5 -1 -1

Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizer Rate and Intra-Row Spacing on Growth, Yield, and Yield Components of Shallot (Allium Ascalonicum L.) At Debark District, North Gondar, Ethiopia

2025-05-01T00:00:00Z

Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizer Rate and Intra-Row Spacing on Growth, Yield, and Yield Components of Shallot (Allium Ascalonicum L.) At Debark District, North Gondar, Ethiopia Misganaw Abeje Shallot (Allium ascalonicum L.) is an important horticultural crop in Ethiopia, valued for its economic and culinary versatility. However, its productivity remains low due to inadequate agronomic practices, particularly improper nitrogen fertilizer rate and intra-row spacing. A field experiment at Debark district was conducted during the 2024 main season to evaluate the effects of nitrogen fertilizer rates (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg ha⁻¹) and intra-row spacing (5, 10, and 15 cm) on the growth, yield, and yield components of shallot. The experiment was laid out in 4x3 factorial arrangement using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications using R software. The results indicated that nitrogen fertilizer had a highly significant (P <0.001) influence on plant height, bulb diameter, bulb weight, and marketable yield. The highest marketable and total bulb yield of 32.22 and 33.77 t ha⁻¹ were obtained at a nitrogen application rate of 150 kg ha⁻¹, respectively representing to a 32.45% increase compared to the control treatment. Similarly, a wider intra-row spacing of 15 cm significantly improved a bulb diameter (5.01 cm), bulb weight (48.81 g), and dry matter content (8.64%) compared to narrower spacing of 5 cm. The interaction of 150 kg ha⁻¹ with 15 cm intra-row spacing produced the highest total bulb yield (38.62 t ha⁻¹), while the lowest bulb yield (16.71 t ha⁻¹) was recorded under the control treatment (0 kg ha-1) combined with 10 cm spacing. The partial budget analysis identified the combination of 150 kg ha⁻¹ with 15 cm intra-row spacing as the most economically viable treatment, providing the highest net benefit of 776,950 ETB ha⁻¹ with a MRR of 3147%. To enhance yield and maximize profit, it is recommended that farmers in the study areas use nitrogen application rate of 150 kg ha⁻¹ in combination with intra-row spacing of 15 cm. However, is advised to repeat the experiment and future research should explore various fertilizer combinations, including organic and inorganic blends, and their interactions with different intra-row and inter-row spacing strategies.