GROWTH AND BULB YIELD OF ALLIUM SATIVUM L. (GARLIC) IN SANDY LOAM AND SILT LOAM SOILS

Abstract

The differences in the growth and bulb yield of Allium sativum L. (garlic) in sandy loam and silt loam soils were studied.  Vegetative growth of plants in sandy loam was significantly higher than that of plants grown in silt loam.  The plant height, number of leaves, fresh weight and dry weight of plants grown in sandy loam was significantly higher than those of plants grown in silt loam.  The weight of bulbs produced by plants grown in silt loam (2.52 0.46 g) was significantly higher at p<0.05 than that of plants grown in sandy loam (1.57 0.21 g).  There was no significant difference in the numbers of cloves per bulb produced by plants from both soil types.  Cloves of bulb produced by plants grown in silt loam had significantly higher allicin concentration (2.11 0.17 g/g fresh clove) than plants grown in sandy loam (1.19 0.33 g/g fresh clove).  This report shows that while garlic plants grew vegetatively better in sandy loam, bulb yield (weight and allicin concentration) was enhanced in silt loam.  A luxuriant vegetative growth of garlic appears not to results in a better bulb yield