
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Maier, NA 
A1  - Dahlenburg, AP 
A1  - Twigden, TK 
T1  - Effect of nitrogen on the yield and quality of irrigated onions (<I>Allium cepa</I> L.) cv. Cream Gold grown on siliceous sands
JF  - Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture
JO  - Aust. J. Exp. Agric.
Y1  - 1990
VL  - 30
IS  - 6
SP  - 845
EP  - 851
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/EA9900845 
N2  - The effect of nitrogen (N), at rates up to 590 kg N/ha, on the yield and quality of Cream Gold onions grown on siliceous sands was investigated in field experiments conducted during 1987-88 (1 site) and 1988-89 (2 sites). As the rate of applied N increased there was a significant (P<0.001) increase in the fresh weight of tops harvested when the largest bulbs were 25-30 mm in diameter. Fresh weight of tops was significantly (P<0.001) correlated with final marketable yield of bulbs. Nitrogen application accelerated top senescence. Nitrogen-deficient plants had erect green tops at harvest. Marketable yield was significantly (P<0.01) increased and the yield of culls (unmarketable bulbs) was significantly (P<0.01) decreased as the rate of N increased at all sites. Nitrogen rates in the range 299-358 kg N/ha were required for 95% of maximum yield. Scale thickness increased significantly (P<0.05) and glucose and fructose concentrations decreased significantly (P<0.05) at 2 sites as the rate of applied N increased. Soluble solids and dry matter of bulbs were not affected by N. Bulb size increased as the rate of applied N increased, however, the magnitude of the effect varied between sites. Number of days to 10% sprouting during storage at 15 ¦ 0.5¦C was significantly increased as the rate of applied N increased up to 40 kg N/ha at 2 sites. We have concluded that for the cv. Cream Gold grown on siliceous sands, the high rates of fertiliser N required to maximise marketable yield and bulb size were not detrimental to quality. 
ER  -

