EFFECTS OF SEEDLING AGE AND INTRA-ROW SPACING ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF ONION IN THE NORTHERN GUINEA SAVANNA, NIGERIA

Field trials were conducted during the 2020/2021, 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 dry seasons at the Faculty of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru, Zaria to study the effects of seedling age and intra row spacing on the growth and yield of onion in the northern Guinea savanna of Nigeria. Treatments consisted of factorial combinations of three seedling ages (28, 42 and 56 days after sowing), three intra-row spacing (10 cm, 15 cm and 20 cm) and three onion varieties (Dayo, Red Star F1 and Dan Zaria). These were laid in randomized complete block design with three replications. The results of the study revealed that transplanting 42- day old seedlings had greater, shoot dry matter, leaf area index, crop growth rate and total bulb yield. Similarly, the total bulb yields were higher at 10 cm and 15 cm spacing compared to 20 cm which also recorded the highest bolting percentage. Dan Zaria also produced the highest shoot dry matter in this study. Based on the results obtained from this study, it can be concluded that onion seedlings should be transplanted at 42-day old at an intra-row spacing of 15 cm in the northern Guinea savanna. Dayo variety was most suitable for this zone in terms of yield.