Effect of seeding rate on plant density and productivity of garlic (Allium sativum L.) in Elseleim Area, Dongola, Sudan

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during two consecutive winter seasons (2018/2019 and 2019/2020) at El-Seleim area, Dongola locality, Northern State, Sudan, to evaluate the effect of seeding rates on plant density and productivity of garlic (Allium sativum L.). The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with a split-plot arrangement and four replications. Three seeding rates (300, 500, and 700 kg/feddan) were tested. Results showed that increasing seeding rate significantly increased plant density, fresh and dry weights, and total yield. However, lower seeding rates improved plant height, bulb diameter, and bulb quality. The highest yield was obtained at 700 kg/feddan, while the best bulb size was recorded at 300 kg/feddan. On the other hand, the highest yield (2.17 tons/feddan) was recorded with the highest seed quantity (700 kg/feddan), indicated the importance of high plant density in increasing the economic return of the crop in the study area. The study concludes that optimizing seeding rate is essential for balancing yield and quality under Northern Sudan conditions.