Title : Response of shallot (Allium cepa var. ascalonicum Backer) to GA? and potassium fertilizer for seed quality at Haramaya, Eastern Ethiopia
Abstract:
Shallot (Allium cepa var. Ascalonicum Backer) is an important crop, prized for its resilience, short growth cycle, and distinct culinary flavor. In Ethiopia, it is widely grown, with major production areas benefiting from bimodal rainfall patterns and expanding under irrigation. However, traditional bulb-based propagation methods are costly and reduce availability for consumption and marketing.In response, Haramaya University developed the Improved Huruta variety, which offers a solution by producing true seeds, potentially lowering production costs and supporting profitable seed production. This study investigates the effects of gibberellic acid (GA?) and potassium chloride (KCl) fertilizers on the seed yield and quality of the Improved Huruta shallot variety. A field trial was conducted during the 2020 cropping season at Haramaya University’s Rare research site, employing a 4 × 4 factorial design with GA? (0, 100, 200, and 300 ppm) and KCl (0, 75, 100, and 125 kg ha?¹) treatments. Results indicated that both GA? and KCl significantly enhanced seedling growth, germination speed, seed purity, and seedling vigor. The combination of 100 ppm GA? and 100 kg KCl ha?¹ produced the highest seedling vigor and seed quality, while higher GA? concentrations above 200 ppm tended to decrease performance. This study provides essential insights into optimizing fertilizer and plant hormone applications for improving shallot seed production in Ethiopia, which could help reduce reliance on costly bulbs used for planting and improve the sustainability of shallot farming.
Keywords: Shallot, gibberellic acid (GA?), potassium (KCl) fertilizer, seed quality
