Effects of Transplanting Time, Variety, and Seedling Pruning on Shallot (Allium cepa var. aggregatum) Growth and Yield

Transplanting is a critical stage in shallot (Allium cepa var. aggregatum) cultivation, particularly when using true shallot seed (TSS) seedlings, as it can trigger transplant shock due to sudden environmental changes. This study aimed to assess the effects of transplanting time, varietal selection, and seedling pruning on physiological responses, recovery, and yield performance of shallot plants. A factorial experiment was conducted using a randomized block design at the experimental farm of Hasanuddin University. The experiment involved three factors: two transplanting times (morning and late afternoon), three shallot varieties (Lokananta, Merdeka F1, and Sanren F1), and two pruning levels (unpruned and pruned to 50% leaf length), resulting in 12 treatment combinations with three replications each. Observed parameters included leaf yellowing percentage, number of dead leaves, duration of recovery, plant height, number of bulbs, bulb diameter, and total yield. The data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Duncan’s multiple range test at a 5% significance level. The results showed that late afternoon transplanting significantly reduced transplant stress, as indicated by a lower percentage of leaf yellowing (13.31%) and faster recovery time (5.20 days), compared to morning transplanting, which had 23.03% yellowing and a recovery time of 5.81 days. Furthermore, yield was notably higher in the late afternoon treatment (27.37 t ha⁻¹) than in the morning (16.90 t ha⁻¹). Seedling pruning also contributed to improved performance, with pruned plants producing 34% more yield than unpruned ones. Among the varieties tested, Sanren F1 exhibited the best adaptability and resilience to transplant stress. Significant interactions were observed between transplanting time and variety, as well as between transplanting time and pruning. These findings suggest that integrating late afternoon transplanting, pruning, and selecting resilient varieties such as Sanren F1 can improve TSS-based shallot cultivation, enhancing both survival and productivity.