Journal of Taiwan Agricultural Research

Author:Ya-Ling Chu*、Hsiang-Yi Huang

Abstract:

This study aimed to identify suitable substrate media for onion plug seedling production and to establish an appropriate water management regime to enhance seedling quality for mechanical transplanting, thereby promoting the automation of onion cultivation. A 448-cell plug tray designed for automated onion transplanters was used to evaluate the physicochemical properties and seedling performance of two commercial vegetable substrates. The results showed that substrate B had significantly higher electrical conductivity (EC) and cation exchange capacity (CEC) than substrate A, while both substrates had potential of hydrogen (pH), EC, bulk density, and porosity values within acceptable ranges for onion plug seedling production. In terms of seedling growth, onion seedlings grown in substrate B had greater plant height, pseudostem diameter, and fresh weight from 2 to 10 wk after sowing, and also displayed a higher seedling vigor index at week 10, indicating its superior suitability for plug seedling production. The water management experiment further demonstrated that irrigating twice daily provided a more stable water supply, leading to improved seedling growth and overall performance. In conclusion, the selected substrate B and the corresponding water management practice effectively enhanced seedling quality and vigor, demonstrating strong applicability to commercial onion plug seedling production and supporting the advancement of automated transplanting systems.

Key words:Onion, Plug-tray seedling, Mechanical transplanting, Water management

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