Influence of Clove Size and Nitrogen Rates on Garlic (Allium Sativum L.) Clove Characters at Debre Berhan, Central Highland of Ethiopia

Netsanet Tena
Debre Berhan University

Abstract

In many Ethiopian regions, garlic is a valuable crop that generates income. However, agronomic issues like improper clove size and insufficient nitrogen fertilization limit its productivity. A field experiment was conducted at Debre Berhan University, College of Agriculture and Natural Resource Sciences, during the 2020–21 main cropping season to evaluate the effects of clove size and nitrogen levels on garlic growth, clove traits, and yield. For this study, the enhanced variety "Tseday" was used. Four nitrogen application rates (0, 52.5, 105, and 157.5 kg N/ha) and three clove size categories small (1.0–1.49, medium (1.5–1.99 g), and large (2.0–2.5 g), were used in the treatments. Three replications and a factorial arrangement were used in a randomized full block design. The findings showed that clove size had a significant impact on plant growth, clove characteristics, emergence rate, and overall bulb yield. Plant growth and maturity parameters were also significantly impacted by nitrogen fertilizer levels. Moreover, all clove characteristics and total yield were greatly impacted by the relationship between nitrogen rates and clove size. When compared to medium (1.5–1.99 g) and small (1–1.49 g) cloves, using cloves weighing 2–2.5 g shortened the maturity duration by 11.25–19.17 days and accelerated emergence by 1.08–3.17 days. Large cloves without nitrogen application produced the highest total bulb yield of 19.19 t/ha, which is equivalent to yield increases of 19.34% and 82.41% when compared to medium cloves at 105 kg N/ha and small cloves without nitrogen, respectively. These conditions suggest that large cloves inherently contain greater reserves of carbohydrates and nutrients, enabling vigorous early growth and efficient resource allocation to bulb development and sufficient residual nitrogen to meet crop demand, rendering additional fertilizer unnecessary. Therefore, planting large cloves (2.0–2.5 g), without nitrogen fertilization is recommended for achieving optimal garlic bulb yield under the given conditions.

Keywords: Clove size, garlic, growth, nitrogen, clove characters and yield