The effect of bulb planting time and type of mulch on the yield of Allium aflatunense B. Fedtsch.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of bulb planting time and the type of mulch on the morphological traits of plants and on bulb yield of <em>Allium aflatunense </em>B. Fedtsch. 'Purple Sensation'. Bulbs of 12 cm diameter were used as the study material. The bulbs were planted in plots on three dates: September 15th, October 1st, and October 15th. The plantation was mulched after frost with two types of mulch: composted pine bark and wheat straw. Phenological phases of the plants were observed during the growing season. At the full flowering stage, several observations and measurements were taken: length of leaves, length of inflorescence peduncle, peduncle diameter, inflorescence diameter, and number of flowers per inflorescence. After harvest, total numerical and weight yield of bulbs were evaluated as well as number and weight of the largest bulbs (21–22 cm diameter). The study showed that in order to obtain <em>Allium aflatunense </em>of high ornamental value, which is determined by the number of flowers per inflorescence and the inflorescence peduncle diameter, bulbs need to be planted in the middle of September. Bulb planting in October leads to production of inflorescences of greater diameter. The optimum method of <em>Allium aflatunense </em>cultivation which ensures production of good total yield of bulbs, expressed in its weight, is bulb planting on September 15th and soil mulching with composted pine bark or straw. Mulching a plantation of <em>Allium aflatunense </em>planted on September 15th with bark has a positive effect on the number and weight of bulbs of 21–22 cm diameter

Mulching as a physical weed control method applicable in medicinal plants cultivations

“…Wang et al [36] investigated implementation of gravel-sand mulches in watermelon production and reported how it influences the soil temperature. There are reports on application of many other organic mulches, such as composted pine bark in Allium aflatunense [57] or pine bark mulch in Salvia splendens [58].Sawdust was recommended as effective mulch for acid-loving plants, such as calla [59] or blueberries [60][61]. Straw and other organic mulches, similarly to composting process, decompose over time through mineralization process, thus forming humus.…”

Yield of corms of Acidanthera bicolor var. murielae perry depending on the date and depth of planting corms

“…Definitely less cormels were obtained in total and marketable yields when the planting of corms was delayed until the 18-19th of May. Many studies have proved that earlier dates of planting corms or bulbs promote obtaining a higher total and marketable yield of cormels or daughter bulbs [6,7,9,10]. Also, the date of planting bulbs or corms influences the growth and development of the above-ground parts of the plant and thus the yield of their daughter bulbs and cormels, which has been confirmed by numerous studies [10][11][12][13].…”

“…Many studies have proved that earlier dates of planting corms or bulbs promote obtaining a higher total and marketable yield of cormels or daughter bulbs [6,7,9,10]. Also, the date of planting bulbs or corms influences the growth and development of the above-ground parts of the plant and thus the yield of their daughter bulbs and cormels, which has been confirmed by numerous studies [10][11][12][13]. Different climate conditions that are typical for India allow us to conclude that earlier planting of corms increased the number and weight of Gladiolus L. cormels [11][12][13][14][15].…”

“…However, these authors found that delaying the date of planting corms till the beginning of April positively influenced the number of cormels. Laskowska et al [10] showed that an earlier date of planting Allium aflatunense bulbs had a positive effect on obtaining a higher weight of daughter bulbs. Allium moly also positively responded to earlier planting of bulbs, since a higher number and weight of bulbs in total yield was obtained [17].…”