Oakes Irrigation Research Site
Carrington Research Extension Center * North Dakota State University
P.O. Box 531, Oakes, ND 58474-0531, Voice: (701) 742-2189, FAX: (701) 742-2700, email: rgreenla@ndsuext.nodak.edu

ONION HYBRID PERFORMANCE TRIAL, 2000

Richard Greenland, Leonard Besemann, and Heidi Eslinger

Results summary

Table 33. Early vigor, maturity, and quality of onions.

Table 34. Yield and total number of onions.

Onions grow well in North Dakota. Growers are producing mostly yellow sweet Spanish onions and some storage onions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Soil: Maddock sandy loam; pH=7.1; 2.5% organic matter; soil-P and soil-K were very high; soil-S was high.
Previous crops: 1999 - edibile bean and pumpkin; 1998 - field corn; 1997 - cabbage.
Seedbed preparation: Disked on 29 October 1999. Multiweeded (field cultivated) on April 5 and April 17 to incorporate fertilizer and smooth the seedbed.
Planting: Direct seeded onions (200,000 seeds/acre) on April 17 with a Stanhay vegetable planter modified to drill a barley cover crop (1 bu/acre, 6-inch rows) between and parallel to the onion rows. Planted onions in paired rows (3 inches apart), with the paired rows on 16-inch centers. Sprayed Fusilade + NIS (12 oz/acre + 1 pt/25 gal on May 18) to kill the barley cover crop.
Plots: Plots were 3 ft (two paired rows) wide by 17 ft long. The study had 4 reps.
Fertilizer: On April 4, broadcast 18 lbs N/acre and 20 lbs S/acre as 21-0-0-24. Applied 50 lbs N/acre as 28-0-0 on April 17. Sprayed 60 lbs N/acre as 28-0-0 on May 23. Fertigated 35 lbs N/acre as 28-0-0 on June 27 and July 14.
Irrigation: Overhead sprinkler irrigation as needed.
Pest control: Weeds were controlled with: Prowl (1.5 pt/acre on May 5); Buctril + Goal (1.5 + 0.6 pt/acre on May 31 and June 22); Spot applied Poast + Dash (1.5 + 1 pt/acre on July 25); and hand weeding. We sprayed with Kocide (1.5 lbs/acre on July 20), Manzate (3 lb/acre on July 12 and 2 lb/acre on July 7, July 26, and Aug 2), and Bravo 500 (3 pt/acre on Aug 9 and 2 pt/acre on Aug 26) to control diseases. No insect control needed.
Harvest: Pulled onions approximately two weeks after half-down date. Onions were allowed to dry in the field for about two weeks then they were bagged and moved to a shed. The onions were graded Nov. 6 to Nov. 13.

RESULTS

The hybrids T-439 and SRO 1429 had the highest jumbo and overall yields. Teton and Eagle also had high total and jumbo yields. Uniglobe 108, Millennium, PS 456994, and PSR 604395 had the highest yields of medium bulbs. SRO 1429, Ranchero, Vaquero, 6633, PSR 362593, Torero, Vantage, Teton, Sabroso, and Vision were the most highly single centered. The two white hybrids had an unusually high percentage of rotten onions. The two dehydrating onions had low yields.

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Table 33. Early vigor, maturity, and quality of onions in the Oakes Irrigation Research Site 2000 onion performance trial.
Hybrid Seed source1 May 18 stand May 18 vigor July 11 vigor Days to half-down2 Single centers Uniformity Overall score
------------ 1 to 10 ----------- % 1 to 5 1 to 10
Yellow
6633 PS4 8.0 abc5 7.0 b-e 8.0 b-e 126 cde 75 abc 3.5 b-e 7.5 a-d
Brahma SS4 4.3 g 5.3 i 7.3 efg 130 efg 20 g 3.1 e-h 6.8 a-g
Eagle (T-406) AT 7.8 a-d 6.8 c-f 8.8 ab 132 ghi 65 a-e 3.8 abc 7.4 a-e
Millennium SS 7.8 a-d 6.8 c-f 8.5 abc 125 cd 60 a-f 3.0 f-i 7.0 a-g
PS 456994 PS 7.5 b-e 6.8 c-f 9.0 a 117 a 65 a-e 3.3 d-g 6.9 a-g
PSR 362593 PS4 7.0 c-f 6.5 d-g 8.8 ab 127 def 75 abc 3.4 c-f 7.5 a-d
PSR 664095 PS4 7.3 b-f 6.3 e-h 7.8 c-f 131 fgh 35 efg 3.1 e-h 6.5 b-g
PSR 604395 PS4 7.3 b-f 6.3 e-h 8.5 abc 121 abc 60 a-f 3.6 a-d 7.6 abc
PX 709295 PS4 6.5 ef 5.3 i 7.3 efg 135 hij 60 a-f 2.9 ghi 6.3 c-g
PX 709995 PS4 6.3 f 5.5 hi 6.8 gh 136 hij 55 b-f 3.1 e-h 6.1 d-g
Quantum PS3 7.5 b-e 6.8 c-f 8.5 abc 118 ab 35 efg 3.0 f-i 6.0 efg
Ranchero SS 8.0 abc 7.0 b-e 7.8 c-f 132 ghi 90 a 3.4 c-f 6.8 a-g
Sabroso SS4 7.0 c-f 6.3 e-h 8.0 b-e 136 hij 70 a-d 3.3 d-g 7.3 a-f
SRO 1429 SS 7.5 b-e 7.3 a-d 8.0 b-e 144 k 90 a 3.6 a-d 7.1 a-g
T-439 AT 8.3 ab 8.0 a 8.8 ab 123 bcd 45 c-g 3.9 ab 8.0 a
Tenshin SC3 7.8 a-d 7.3 a-d 8.8 ab 123 bcd 55 b-f 3.3 d-g 7.4 a-e
Teton PS 8.0 abc 7.0 b-e 8.8 ab 123 bcd 70 a-d 4.0 a 7.9 ab
Tioga PS4 8.0 abc 6.8 c-f 8.3 a-d 125 cd 65 a-e 3.5 b-e 7.5 a-d
Torero SS4 8.0 abc 6.5 d-g 7.8 c-f 135 hij 85 ab 3.3 d-g 7.1 a-g
Torero SS 7.8 a-d 7.5 abc 7.5 d-g 136 ij 65 a-e 3.5 b-e 7.4 a-e
Uniglobe 100 PS3 7.5 b-e 7.8 ab 8.5 abc 122 a-d 30 fg 3.3 d-g 7.1 a-g
Uniglobe 108 PS 8.8 a 8.0 a 9.0 a 119 ab 50 c-g 3.5 b-e 7.3 a-f
Uniglobe 118 PS4 7.5 b-e 7.5 abc 8.8 ab 125 cd 60 a-f 3.5 b-e 6.9 a-g
Vantage PS4 8.3 ab 7.0 b-e 8.5 abc 121 abc 75 abc 3.6 a-d 7.8 ab
Vaquero SS 7.3 b-f 6.8 c-f 7.3 efg 137 ij 85 ab 3.3 d-g 6.6 a-g
Vision PS4 6.5 ef 5.8 ghi 7.3 efg 139 j 70 a-d 3.0 f-i 6.6 a-g
Winner SS4 6.8 def 6.3 e-h 6.0 h 139 j 65 a-e 3.1 e-h 6.9 a-g
XPH97H33 CR 8.1 abc 6.9 cde 7.7 c-g 137 ij 40 d-g 3.2 d-h 6.6 a-g
XPH97H36 CR 7.5 b-e 6.5 d-g 7.0 fg 135 hij 30 fg 3.3 d-g 6.5 b-g
Red
Flamenco SS 8.0 abc 7.0 b-e 8.0 b-e 127 def 40 d-g 2.9 ghi 5.8 gh
Mercury PS 7.3 b-f 7.3 a-d 8.3 a-d 124 cd 55 b-f 3.1 e-h 5.9 fg
White
901494 PS4 7.3 b-f 6.0 f-i 7.0 fg 139 jk 30 fg 2.8 hi 3.0 i
901694 PS4 7.0 c-f 5.8 ghi 7.0 fg 135 hij 70 a-d 2.6 i 4.4 hi
Dehydrating
Aspen RR 8.0 7.5 9.0 116 10 2.5 6.3
Star Dust RR 6.0 6.0 8.5 125 0 3.0 3.0
C. V. (%) 10 8 8 3 37 11 15
Probability <.0001 <.0001 <.0001 <.0001 <.0001 <.0001 <.0001

1See Appendix A for seed source codes.

2The "days to half-down" was the number of days from planting to when half the onion tops had fallen over. This is an indication of maturity.

3,4This seed was furnished by Norman Haak or Frontier Seed Company, respectively.

5Values in the same column followed by the same letter are not significantly different at the 0.05

level. Dehydrating onions not included in statistics because there were only two plots of each.

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Table 34. Yield and total number of onions in the Oakes Irrigation Research Site 2000 onion hybrid performance trial.
Hybrid Seed source1 Onion yield (by bulb size) Culls Total bulbs
> 4 3 to 4" 2¼ to 3" <2¼" Total
-------------------------- cwt/acre ------------------------ % 1000s/A

Yellow

6633 PS4 0 f2 314 e-j 251 abc 33 bcd 690 e-h 14 a-d 166 a-d
Brahma SS4 5 c-f 193 k-n 135 i-l 12 hi 374 l 6 a 79 n
Eagle (T-406) AT 0 f 463 abc 196 d-h 16 f-i 820 abc 17 a-e 161 b-f
Millennium SS 0 f 121 n 247 a-d 49 a 561 jk 26 b-e 152 d-h
PS 456994 PS 0 f 210 i-n 276 ab 37 b 611 g-j 16 a-e 174 ab
PSR 664095 PS4 0 f 245 g-m 178 g-j 23 c-i 602 hij 25 b-e 147 fgh
PSR 362593 PS4 6 c-f 453 a-d 152 h-l 14 ghi 688 e-h 1 a 127 jkl
PSR 604395 PS4 3 ef 336 d-h 247 a-d 34 bc 671 f-i 8 a 163 a-e
PX 709995 PS4 3 ef 228 h-n 113 lm 24 c-h 498 k 26 b-e 111 m
PX 709295 PS4 3 ef 226 h-n 135 i-l 19 e-i 536 jk 29 de 126 klm
Quantum PS3 5 def 209 j-n 181 g-j 33 bcd 560 jk 25 b-e 147 fgh
Ranchero SS 22 b 393 b-e 132 j-m 20 e-i 794 bcd 29 e 162 b-f
Sabroso SS4 0 f 296 e-k 182 f-j 18 f-i 566 jk 11 ab 127 jkl
SRO 1429 SS 36 a 544 a 149 h-l 14 ghi 867 ab 15 a-e 165 a-e
T-439 AT 16 bcd 552 a 232 b-f 15 ghi 905 a 7 a 179 a
Tenshin SC3 2 ef 262 f-l 207 c-g 28 b-f 576 ijk 13 a-d 142 g-j
Teton PS 5 c-f 491 ab 234 b-e 22 d-i 821 abc 6 a 162 b-f
Tioga PS4 3 ef 362 c-g 183 e-i 19 e-i 687 e-h 17 a-e 147 fgh
Torero SS 16 bcd 393 b-e 171 g-k 27 b-f 749 c-f 19 a-e 156 c-g
Torero SS4 8 c-f 372 b-f 206 c-g 24 c-i 736 c-f 18 a-e 161 b-f
Uniglobe 100 PS3 0 f 245 g-m 239 bcd 25 b-g 609 g-j 15 a-e 149 e-h
Uniglobe 108 PS 0 f 286 e-k 293 a 19 e-i 695 e-h 13 abc 161 b-f
Uniglobe 118 PS4 22 b 390 b-e 122 klm 12 i 773 b-e 27 cde 143 ghi
Vantage PS4 3 ef 467 abc 240 bcd 28 b-f 799 bcd 7 a 169 abc
Vaquero SS 13 b-e 336 d-h 137 i-l 23 c-i 684 e-h 25 b-e 143 ghi
Vision PS4 9 b-f 280 e-k 123 klm 19 e-i 538 jk 21 a-e 113 lm
Winner SS4 5 c-f 295 e-k 174 g-j 19 e-i 604 hij 17 a-e 130 ijk
XPH97H33 CR 9 b-f 345 c-h 200 c-h 16 f-i 712 d-g 20 a-e 153 c-h
XPH97H36 CR 16 bcd 283 e-k 149 h-l 24 c-h 622 g-j 21 a-e 144 ghi
Red
Flamenco SS 0 f 158 lmn 214 c-g 30 b-e 537 jk 25 b-e 151 d-h
Mercury PS 18 bc 327 e-i 109 lm 20 e-i 681 e-h 27 cde 138 h-k
White
901494 PS4 5 c-f 157 lmn 83 m 19 e-i 545 jk 54 f 137 h-k
901694 PS4 5 c-f 140 mn 132 j-m 16 f-i 548 jk 47 f 151 d-h
Dehydrating
Aspen RR 0 0 145 160 389 14 221
Star Dust RR 0 0 44 88 261 44 145
C. V. (%) 130 27 20 37 10 55 8
Probability <.0001 <.0001 <.0001 <.0001 <.0001 <.0001 <.0001

1See Appendix A for seed source codes.

2Values in the same column followed by the same letter are not significantly different at the 0.05 level. Dehydrating onions not included in statistics because there were only two plots of each.

3,4This seed was furnished by Norman Haak or Frontier Seed Company, respectively.

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