Effects of Clove Size and Plant Density on the Bulb Yield and Yield Components of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) in Sodo Zuria Woreda, Southern Wolaita Zone

A field experiment was conducted during the 2014/15 cropping season near Sodo town at a site called Marchare/Kokate Kebele Sodo Zuria Woreda, Wolaita Zone of SNNPRS, to evaluate the effects of clove size and plant density on the clove yield and yield components of garlic (Allium sativum L.). Treatments comprised of three clove sizes levels (1.0-1.49, 1.5-1.99 and 2.0-2.50g) and three plant spacing levels (5 cm, 7.5 cm and 10 cm) which were laid out in factorial arrangement in randomized complete block design with three replications. Tsedaye TT1 variety from Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center was used for the experiment. Data were collected on plant height, leaf number, leaf length, small clove sizes, medium clove sizes and large clove sizes, marketable and unmarketable and total yield (t/ha) The result revealed that the main effects of clove sizes and plant spacing had significant effects on plant height, leaf number, mean clove weight and diameter, total yield, total marketable and unmarketable number. There was no statistical difference (p<0.05) on no clove or bulb, clove dry matter, leaf length leaf width, shaft diameter dry matter content due to treatments. The result showed that interaction of clove size level and plant spacing was not significantly (p<0.01) influenced in all parameters. Specifically, both marketable and total yields showed increasing trend with increase in nitrogen rates where the highest total marketable yield (289.94 t ha-1) and total yield (262.22 t ha-1) were recorded at the level of 289.94g ha-1and plant spacing 10cm which was 262.22(t/ha) obtained Regarding the wide plant spacing 10cm, extended days to physiological maturity was recorded with clove sizes level up to 7.5cm. The results of the experiment suggested that the garlic variety Tsedaye responded well to the levels of clove sizes and plant spacing .In conclusion, using of clove sizes 2.0-2.50g and plant spacing of 10cm cm was found to be promising for yield of garlic. Keywords: Clove, Plant Density, Bulb Yield, Yield Components and Garli