Optimizing Seedling Age for the Production of Onion (<i>Allium cepa</i> L.) Varieties in Northeastern Ethiopia

Onion is commonly established in the field either by direct sowing, or transplanting seedling from seedbed sets depending on growing conditions of specific region and grower interests. However, optimum age onion areas Ethiopia not well done. Field experiment was conducted at Alawuhakebele North Wollo zone to optimize varieties 2021/2022 cropping season under irrigation. Adama Red, Bombay Red Nafisand four ages (30, 40, 50 60 days) were laid down RCBD replicated three times. Phenology, growth yield parameters collected using standard procedures analyzed SAS software. Results revealed significant (P < 0.05) difference for plant height, leaf length, neck diameter bulb length; while their interaction significant. Nafis gave significantly longer (4.89 cm) than (4.70 (4.45 cm). Nafisderived 40 days old seedlings produced highest average weight (100.10 g), marketable (37.68 t ha-1) total (37.96 yield. The overall result indicated that establishment may be good northeastern Ethiopia.