Study the Effects of Planting Methods on Qualitative and Quantitative Characteristics and Economic Benefit of Short-Day Onion Genotypes

In order to study the effects of direct seeding and transplanting methods on yield and agronomic characters as well as economic benefit in short day onion genotypes an experiment was conducted at Behbahan Agricultural Research Station located in the Southwestern part of Iran from 2014 to 2016. The experiment laid out as factorial based on randomized complete block design with six treatments and four replications. Factor (A) was onion genotypes: Ramhormoz landrace, improved population of Behbahan onion and Primavera cultivar. Factor (B) was planting methods (direct seeding and transplanting). In direct seeding, seeds were sown in field in mid-October. The seeds were sown in nursery bed in early October and the seedlings transplanted to field at two or three leaf stages. During the experiment characters: height and leaf number, Bolted plants percentage, total and marketable yield, doubling bulb percentage, bulb dry matter percentage, and total soluble solid were evaluated and recorded. The bolted plants and doubling bulb percentage in direct seeding were significantly higher as compared with transplanting method at 1% probability level. The effect of planting methods on total and marketable yield was not significant. Primaver cultivar produced the highest total and marketable yield. However no significant difference was recorded for total yield between Primavera and Ramhormoz landrace. The results of economic analysis indicated that direct seeding was more benefit than transplanting method. The highest cost and gross income were recorded for transplanting and direct seeding methods in Primavera cultivar respectively. The maximum benefit to cost ratio and net present value were found for direct seeding of improved population of Behbahan onion.