Agroeconomic Performance of the Chive (Allium fistulosum) under Different Seedlings Management Methods

Abstract

Due to the importance of chive cultivation and the lack of information in the preparation of the seedlings, the objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of number of tillers, and the presence or absence of cutting of shoots in the preparation of seedlings, on the agroeconomic performance of chives. The experimental design was a randomized block design, with three replications, in a split plot scheme, with the treatments in the plots applied following a 2 × 4 factorial with two levels for the cut factor (i.e., with and without leaf cuttings) and four levels for the "number of tillers" factor (2, 3, 4, and 5 tillers per seedling). Harvesting was done twice, at 73 and 100 days after planting (DAP). At each harvesting period, the plant length, fresh mass, dry matter mass, and diameter of each tiller were evaluated. In addition, the mass of fresh and dry matter of plants with and without commercial pattern and the number of tillers per plant were noted. In order to evaluate economic performance, the following indicators were used: gross income, net income, return rate, and profitability index. The highest mass values of the fresh and commercial dry matter of chives are obtained with five tillers per seedling, and the aerial part of the tillers are neither cut at the time of planting or at the time of harvesting at 100 DAP. Considering the economic indicators, it is recommended to harvest at 100 DAP, use two tillers per seedlings, and not cutshoots at the time of planting.