Incidence of mechanical grading on garlic "seed" (Allium sativum L.) in commercial yield.

Abstract

This trial intends to demonstrate the importance of clove grading in the garlic planting stock and the importance of this to obtain better commercial yields. The clonal type "Rosado Paraguayo" and a screen with square metal mail of13,11 and 9 mm was used. The experiment was disposed in Latin Square (4x4) at the Experimental Station of Córdoba National University - Argentine. The most important results are the advantages of cloves of more than 1,222 grammes for comercial production and the possibility to use the smaller ones for the "seed production" because of the great conversion tax. A management model for the farmers is proposed. Cloves with more weight demonstrate a capacity to produce a greater number of leaves, taller plants, heavier bulbs and greater diameter, although they do not demonstrate significative statistic differences on the emergen speed.