The effects of seed amount and sowing methods on the yield and root quality of "Balcalı" radish variety

This study was carried out in experimental and research area of the Çukurova University, Faculty of Agriculture Department of Horticulture. Radish cultivar ?Balcalı? was used as plant material. Five different seed amounts (2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 and 12.5 kg/ha), 2 sowing methods (row and spit down) and two different cultivation places (ridges and flat) were detected in this experiment. First emergence time of the seeds, leaf number, leaf weight, root weight, total plant (biomass) weight, diameter of the root, height of the root, root height/diameter index, the rate of the leaf weight root number, density of the root, total yield, the rate of root cracking and farming, total soluble solids and the effect of the applications on the amount of vitamin C were investigated in this study. According to results, there were no significant differences on yield regarding to applications, but, the highest yield was obtained from 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 kg/ha seed amounts in row sowing and from 10.0 and 12.5 kg/ha seed amounts in spit sowings. The root size parameters; like root weight, root diameter and root height were significantly effected by sowing density and the root size was decreased due to the increase of sowing density. Likewise; in row sowing the roots were smaller than in spit sowings. As a conclusion; 7.5 kg/ha seed amount and row sowing were recommended for radish cultivation in Mediterranean Region. Seed sowing in ridges can be advised because of the higher root/leaf index than in flat sowing as cultivation place. Key words: Seed amount, Sowing place, Sowing method, Yield, Root Parameters, Vitamin C.