VALENCIANA ONION PRODUCTION IN THE ALTO VALLE OF RIO NEGRO, ARGENTINA

The region called Alto Valle of Rio Negro is located in the Center-South West of Argentina in the concourse of the Rivers Limay and Neuquen including the first 100 km of the River Negro born in the above concourse.
There are two provinces involved Neuquen and Rio Negro.
The main agricultural activities are related to apples and pears orchards.
The 5% of the cultivated 53,500 ha are vegetables, mainly tomatoes and onions.

The area cultivated with onions has been increased during the last years because this crop is a profitable alternative for fruit growers to reduce new orchard expenses.
The particular local crop mangement for onions is characterized by high plant densities (300,000 to 1,000,000 plants/ha) that yield 62–100-MT/ha using the long day valenciana type Valcatorce INTA.

The objective of this study was a description and an economical analysis among the most common onion crop managements in the region.

Poll opinions and grower field trials during 1991 to 1993 have been made to characterize the onion production in the region (crop management types, costs of production, yields, etc.).

The results indicate that there is no significant differences among the 5, 6 and 7 rows per bed in yield but profitability index decreases.
The causes are discussed.

I International Symposium on Edible Alliaceae

N. Iglesias, P. Villarreal, A. Massari

onion production, plant density, economy

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1997.433.7