Effect of different inter and intra row spacing on the growth and yield of different cultivars of onion

A field trial was conducted to study the effect of different inter and intra row spacing on the growth and yield of different cultivars of onion at Dargai, Malakand Agency, during 2000. Two cultivars of onion i.e. Swat-1 and Red glossy, and four different inter and intra row spacing i.e. 27x14.5 cm, 22x9.5 cm, 17x4.5 cm and control (farmers' local practice) were studied. Different inter and intra row spacing had significant effect on various parameters studied whereas, both the cultivars and their interaction with spacing did not show any significant differences. Maximum number of leaves per plant (11.62), bulb diameter (6.65 cm) and bulb weight (104.3g) were noted in plots having 22x9.5 cm spacing, whereas minimum number of leaves (9.34); bulb diameter (5.58 cm) and bulb weight (76.32 gm) were observed in control. Maximum weight of bulbs per plot (5.64 kg) and yield per hectare (40.44 tons) were recorded in plots having 17x4.5 cm spacing. Spacing 22x9.5 cm resulted in 26.85 tons per hectare production, which had attractive marketable bulb diameter and weight. On the basis of over all results, 22x9.5 cm inter and intra row spacing showed good performance and is therefore, considered best for onion cultivation in the agro-climatic conditions of Dargai, Malakand agency.