THE PLANTING PERIOD AND THE SIZE OF CLOVES INFLUENCES ON GARLIC PRODUCTION

Abstract

Climate change raises a number of issues of farmers. Even if growing spring garlic in Romania usually occurs in March, recent changes of temperature and moisture abundance on soil that occurred during February-March period compelled farmers to seek new periods and methods of garlic cultivation. For example, in the spring of 2012 garlic could not be grown before early April. The assessed results obtained by the cultivation of garlic on April 2nd, 7th and 12th showed us that the best results and yields were obtained on the crop originated from April 2nd, with a 7.75 t/ha garlic production as compared to 6.25 t/ha (garlic cultivated on April 7th) and 4.75 t/ha (garlic cultivated on April 12th). In addition the production quality was superior for the crops originating from April 2nd. The results obtained show clearly that it is necessary a permanent assessment of planting date according to climate change in order to have a satisfactory productivity in the new environment and better manage existing genetic resources.