Evaluation of some garlic (Allium Satirum) cultivars for production in Gezira [Sudan]

This study was conducted during 1995/96 season to evaluate the effect of clove size, mulch and varieties on the growth and yield of garlic. Comparisons were made between the potential productivity of the newly introduced Ramses variety and two local varieties, namely Berber and Dongola. The experiment was conducted at the Gezira farm. Cloves were planted on the 17th of Oct 1995, and the harvest was on the 5th for Ramses variety, and the 18th of March 1996 for the local varieties. All necessary cultural practices, such as irrigation, weeding and pest control were carried out. The cloves of each variety were graded int 3 sizes according to their weight, large size 29, medium size for 2 to 0.6g and small 0.6g, and then planted on both sides of the ridge. The date was recorded for emergance (), plant height (cm), number of leaves/plant, leaf length (cm), leaf width (cm), plant fresh weight (g), plant stand at harvest time bulb weight (g), clove weight (g), clove number and estimated total yield (t/ha). Results shwed that all of the investigated parameters were highen for originaly large clove size eccept for the leaf width and germination rate of Ramses variety. The percentage of germination of the small clove size was significantly lower than that of both large and medium size. The use of large clove size increased yield by (37) over the medium, and 92 over the small clove size. The small clove size produced significantly small bulbs than large and medium cloves (27.6, 36.6 and 47.3 g/bulb for small, medium and large respectively). The positive effect of mutch included an increase of fresh weight, plant height, bulb weight of 39.2 g compared with 3.2 t/ha and 35.3 g respectively for the unmulched control. The difference between large and medium clove size in sprouting rate, number of leaves per plant, leaf length, plant population and clove weight were not significant. Significant variations were obserrd between the varieties for most of the characters studied. Despite the heavy thrips attack, Ramses variety had better vegetative growth rate and bulb yield than the local varieties in terms of plant height, leaf length, plant fresh weight, bulb weight and colve number/bulb. The highest estimated total yield (4.8 t/ha) was was given by Dongola variety, followed by Ramses (3.2 t/ha). The lowest total yield was by Barber variety (2.6 t/ha)