Growth and Yield of Different Varieties of True Shallot Seed on Highland in West Sumatra, Indonesia

Cultivation of true shallot seeds has the potential to be developed in Indonesia because apart from being able to reduce the cost of providing seeds, it also has higher productivity than shallot from tubers. %is study aims to determine the appearance of true shallot seed varieties that have high yield potential in the highlands ofWest Sumatra.%e study used a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 4 treatments of true shallot seed varieties, namely, Trisula, Bima, Lokananta, and Sanren, with 6 replications. %e results showed that except for the age of harvest and the number of tubers per hill, the treatment of various varieties of true shallot seeds showed a significant effect on all observed variables. Lokananta variety has better growth component, yield component, and yields compared to other varieties (Trisula, Bima, and Sanren). Cultivation of true shallot seeds in the highlands gives lower yields than in the adapted area (lowland), except for the Trisula variety. Lokananta variety is recommended for use in the highlands of West Sumatra.


Introduction
Shallots (Allium ascalonicum L.) are one of the important food commodities in Indonesia. is commodity is grown in all provinces in Indonesia, except in the Riau Islands Province. West Sumatra Province is one of the centres for shallot production where shallots are cultivated in the highlands, such as Solok Regency (8,879 ha), Agam Regency (661 ha), Solok Selatan Regency (400 ha), Tanah Datar Regency (230 ha), and Lima Puluh Kota Regency (142 ha) [1].
During 2014-2018, the harvested area of shallots had increased by 29.89% in Indonesia and 74.95% in West Sumatra, respectively, from 120,704 ha to 156,799 ha in Indonesia and from 5,941 ha to 10,394 ha in West Sumatra [1]. Meanwhile, according to BPS-Statistics Indonesia 2016 and 2019 report, productivity had decreased by 6.16% in Indonesia, from 10.22 t/ha to 9.59 t/ha. On the other hand, in West Sumatra, there was an increase in the productivity of 6.10% from 10.32 t/ha to 10.95 t/ha [2,3]. e increase in shallot planting from year to year has increased the need for quality seeds from bulbs. Provision of quality seeds from bulbs has constraints, such as (1) it requires a large cost of providing seeds from bulbs (around IRD 45 million/ha); (2) it requires a very large number of seeds from bulbs (about 1.5 t/ha); (3) it requires a storage warehouse because of its large number and dormancy period; (4) the usage age of the seed from bulbs is short, and the quality of the seed will decline after 4 months and will be damaged after 6 months; (5) distribution of bulb seeds among farmers/regions requires a large amount of money; and (6) high variation in bulbs seeds' quality and low productivity [4].
e Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia has developed a shallot cultivation technology which sources the seeds from seeds (TSS � true shallot seed). e TSS has advantages, including (1) long storage life (>1 year); (2) higher productivity, up to 20 t/ha; (3) the shape and size of the bulbs produced are relatively more uniform; (4) the cost of buying seeds is relatively cheaper (around IRD 15 million/ ha); (5) free of pests and diseases, such as fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes, and other insects; and (6) seeds can be planted when needed [5]. e results of the technical and economic feasibility analysis showed that the cultivation of TSS is technically and economically feasible because it can increase the yield of shallot bulbs up to 2 times and the net income in the range of IRD 60-70 million/ha, respectively [6]. Furthermore, this shallot cultivation technology is predicted to improve the bulb yield up to 30 t/ha [7], or even 30-40 t/ha [8]. e varieties of shallot from seeds that have been recently produced include Trisula, Pancasona, Mentes, Maja Cipanas [9], Bima, Sanren, Manjung, Lokananta, Tuktuk, Pikatan, and Tajuk [10]. However, from those varieties, only some varieties are the most circulating ones in the market such as Bima and Trisula (produced by IAARD) and also Lokananta and Sanren (produced by the private sector).
However, the true shallot seed cultivation technology has not been developed at the farmer level till date in Indonesia, including in West Sumatra. Apart from the fact that the availability of seeds is still difficult to obtain, the availability of information regarding the technology of true shallot seed cultivation which is specific to the highlands of West Sumatra, is also very limited, especially regarding superior varieties that have the potential to be developed in the highlands. e true shallot seed varieties released are generally from lowland adaptation areas.
Research on the use of superior TSS varieties has been previously carried out on upland land in Cianjur, West Java Province (1,000 m asl) with Andisol soil types. e Bima, Sanren, Manjung, BM 8705 (Lokananta), Tuktuk, Pikatan, and Tajuk varieties were compared to the Bima variety from the bulbs. In fact, the bulb yields obtained in the Sanren, Manjung and BM 8705 (Lokananta) varieties were not significantly different from the comparison varieties (Bima from bulbs). Meanwhile, the Pikatan, Tuktuk, and Tajuk varieties gave lower yields and were significantly different from the comparison varieties [10]. Furthermore, research conducted in the lowlands of Cirebon, West Java Province, on the seeds of Maja, Bima, and Tuktuk varieties gave no significant difference in bulb growth and yield [11]. Moreover, research conducted in Sigi District, Central Sulawesi Province, found that the Lokananta and Sanren TSS varieties had different responses to the growth and yield of shallot bulbs [12]. e variety of varietal responses in several regions Provides an opportunity to test the yield potential of various TSS varieties at shallot production centres in the highlands of West Sumatra. erefore, this research was conducted which aims to determine the appearance of growth and yield of various TSS varieties in the highlands of West Sumatra.

Materials and Methods
e research was carried out from June to December 2020 at the Sukarami Experimental Garden, West Sumatera Assessment Institute for Agricultural Technology (AIAT), Solok Regency, West Sumatra Province, Indonesia, with an altitude of about 1,000 m above sea level (asl) and Andosol soil type [13]. Soil nutrient content before the experiment (4 weeks before planting) was as follows: pH H 2 O (5.73; slightly acidic), C-organic (3.86%; high), N (1.02%; very high), C/N (3.78; very low), P 2 O 5 bray I (8.58 ppm; very low), and K-dd (0.61 cmol/kg; high) [14]. e research was arranged using a randomized completely block design (RCBD) with 4 treatments and 6 replications so that 24 experimental units were obtained. e four TSS varieties (Trisula, Bima, Lokananta, and Sanren) used as treatment were varieties released from lowland adaptation areas.
Basic fertilizer application in the form of dolomite lime (540 kg/ha), cow manure (20 t/ha), and P fertilizer (150 kg P 2 O 5 /ha or the equivalent of 417 kg SP36/ha) were applied 3 weeks before planting by spreading it evenly on the experimental plots and then stirred with soil. e size of the plot used was 5 m × 1 m. e plots were closed using silver black plastic mulch (SBPM). Four weeks after the application of basic fertilizers, the soil nutrient content was obtained as follows: pH H 2 O (6.12; slightly acidic), C-organic (9.27%; very high), N (1.05%; very high), C/N (8.83; low), P 2 O 5 (16.51 ppm; low), and K-dd (1.03 cmol/kg; very high) [14]. e tested seeds of shallot varieties were shown in the nursery for 6 weeks. Seedlings that were transplanting to the planting area were those that already have a height of about 10 cm or more. One week before planting, the seedlings were cut by 1/3 of the leaves so that the leaves became stiff and thick, and then 2 seedlings/planting holes were planted. ree days before planting, SBPM holes were made with a distance of 10 × 10 cm and a hole diameter of 5.5 cm.
Follow-up fertilizers in the form of N fertilizer at a dose of 200 kg N/ha derived from 65% urea (130 kg N/ha or equivalent to 283 kg urea/ha) and 35% ZA (Ammonium sulfate) (70 kg N/ha or equivalent to 333 kg Ammonium sulfate/ha) were applied with fertilizer K (150 kg K 2 O/ha or the equivalent of 250 kg KCl/ha). Follow-up fertilizers were applied when the plants were 15 days after planting (DAP) and 30 DAP, each 1/2 part of the dose by burying around the plant and covered with soil.
Weeding was done manually at the age of 15, 30, and 45 DAP. Pests and disease were controlled using 3% carbofuran insecticide at the time of planting which was given in the planting hole. Further control was done using recommended pesticides at intervals of 1 × 1 week to 2 × 1 weeks, depending on the level of pest and disease attacks. Additionally, harvesting was done when the green shallot leaves reached 80% yellow, and most of the bulbs were protruding above the soil surface. e formation of a distinctive red pigment and dark red or purplish-red color on the bulbs also occurred. Furthermore, harvesting was done by pulling the plants carefully, then collecting, and drying (using indirect sunlight). e variables observed included the following: (a) plant height, (b) leaf number per clump, (c) leaf number per bulb, (d) harvest age, (e) bulb number per clump, (f ) bulb weight per clump, (g) weight per bulb, (h) bulb height, (i) bulb diameter, (j) wet biomass yield, (k) dry biomass yield, (l) shrinkage of biomass (wet biomass yield−dry biomass yield), (m) shrinkage bulb (wet biomass yield−dry bulb yield), and (n) dry bulb yield. e observed data were tabulated and analyzed for variance (F test), and if a significant difference was found, DMRT (Duncan Multiple Range Test) is at 5% level and correlation analysis was performed [15].

Yield Component.
Statistical analysis on the bulb number per clump showed that the variety had no significant effect on the bulb number per clump. On the other hand, variety significantly affected the bulb weight per clump. e bulb weight per clump ranged from 8.11 to 16.56 g. e greatest bulb weight per clump was found in the Lokananta variety (16.56 g), and the lowest was in the Sanren variety (8.11 g). Variety also affected the weight per bulb, bulb height, and bulb diameter. e weight per bulb ranged from 3.88-8.08 g, bulb height ranged from 20.0-25.5 mm, and bulb diameter ranged from 24.3-31.6 mm. e greatest weight per bulb was in Lokananta variety (8.08 g), and the lowest was in Sanren variety (3.88 g). e same results were seen in bulb height. e highest bulb diameter was also found in Lokananta variety (31.6 mm) and the lowest in Bima and Sanren varieties, 24.3 mm each (Table 3).

Yield.
e results of statistical analysis on the wet biomass yield indicated that the variety had a significant effect on the wet biomass yield. e wet biomass yield ranged from 19,115 to 32,102 kg/ha. e highest wet biomass yield was found in Lokananta variety (32,102 kg/ha), and the lowest was in Bima variety (19,115 kg/ha). Variety also has a significant effect on the dry biomass yield and dry bulb yield. e highest dry biomass yield was found in Lokananta variety (20,632 kg/ha), and the lowest was in Bima variety (13,440 kg/ha). Similar results were seen in the dry bulb yield. e shrinkage of biomass and bulb was also affected by variety. e shrinkage of biomass ranged from 29.5 to 36.0%, and shrinkage bulb ranged from 66.1 to 75.9%. e highest shrinkage of biomass was found in Trisula variety (36.0%), and the lowest was in Bima (29.5%); while the highest shrinkage bulb was found in Sanren variety (75.9%), and the lowest was in Trisula variety (66.1%) ( Table 4). e appearance of growth components, yield components, and yield of TSS was influenced by the genetic characteristics of the variety and the growing environment.
e Lokananta variety had the highest plant height which was not significantly different from the Sanren variety. e result was similar to previous studies [10,12,16]. Otherwise, the Lokananta variety had the lowest leaf number per clump and the lowest leaf number per bulb in the Sanren variety similar to that obtained from previous studies [10]. Plant growth is an interaction between genetic traits and environmental factors [17][18][19]. e difference in the appearance of plants under the same environmental conditions is caused by the genotypic traits of population members [20].
Compared to the descriptions of each variety, it appeared that all varieties tested had higher plant heights. In the description, the plant heights of Trisula, Bima, Lokananta, and Sanren varieties were 39.92 cm, 25-44 cm, 49.08-57.40 cm, and 49.08-57.40 cm, respectively. Meanwhile, the leaf number per tuber of the Bima, Lokananta, and Sanren varieties was in accordance with the description. However, the Trisula variety has a number of leaves per bulb that exceeds its description (4-5 pieces). Furthermore, the leaf number per clump of all tested varieties was still below the description. is is probably because the dense spacing (10 × 10 cm and 2 seeds/planting hole) will increase the plant population more than 2 times, resulting in competition in utilizing sunlight which causes the plants to become taller. In plants with high density, there will be a lack of light so that the number of leaves becomes small due to the reduced photosynthesis process. In addition, there is also an etiolation process (plant growth acceleration) so that plants become taller [21][22][23].
Furthermore, the harvest age of all tested varieties was longer than the description, ranging from 21-33 days. In the description, the average harvesting age of the Trisula, Bima, Lokananta, and Sanren varieties of bulbs was 53, 60, 65, and 63 DAP, while the results of the research were 86 DAP, 85 DAP, 86 DAP, and 86 DAP. In the Tuktuk TSS variety, the harvesting age was 19-26 days longer than in traditional seeds (bulb origin). is occurs due to broken roots caused by uprooting in the nursery and stagnation in growth and environmental stress at the beginning of growth in the field [8]. In addition, it is also due to the time interval required, starting from the mini bulbs when transplanted in the original seed planting system with bulb size of the seed from the bulb planting system.
Another reason is that all tested varieties were released into lowland adaptation areas so that planting in the highlands led to an extension of the harvest age. e seed yield of Bima variety is 21 days longer in the highlands (1,000 m asl) than in the lowlands (100 m asl) [24], while the harvest age of bulbs in the lowlands is 40 days faster than in the highlands [25]. is is because temperature greatly affects the harvest age [26]. Plants grown at low temperatures (highlands) take a longer time to initiate reproductive International Journal of Agronomy 3 development than at high temperatures (lowlands) [27]. At low temperatures, the plant growth rate is slower due to the slow process of photosynthesis, thus extending the harvest age [21,28]. Lokananta variety also has the best bulb weight per clump, weight per bulb, bulb height, and bulb diameter compared to other varieties. is is due to the variety response which is closely related to the plant height. It is suspected that higher plants have wider leaves, which will produce more photosynthate. Previous studies have found a very significant correlation between plant height and bulb height, bulb diameter, wet biomass yield, and dry biomass yield and not significantly different from the number of bulbs per clump [10]. e same condition was also found in this study (Table 5). However, the value of the yield component is still low in comparison with the description. Highland's low-temperature factor is predicted to be the cause of the low yield component value of the varieties released to the lowlands with high temperatures. Research on rice plants found that low temperatures can reduce the     International Journal of Agronomy value of yield and yield components, depending on the variety planted [29]. Wet biomass yield, dry biomass yield, and dry bulb yield were also found in Lokananta varieties which were significantly different from other varieties. However, the yield of this dry bulb was still below the description, except for the Trisula variety. Overall, this is controlled by genetic traits [30]. However, differences in the final appearance of plants were also determined by differences in environmental conditions [20]. Varieties that have high yield potential at one location are not necessarily high yield potentials at other locations [31]. Bima variety of shallot is very sensitive to environmental changes, while the varieties of Probolinggo, Tiron-sawah, and Biru-pasir are well adapted to all environments [32]. e increase in dry bulb yield was closely related to the growth component and yield component [10]. is study found of dry bulb yield had a very significant positive correlation with bulb weight per clump, weight per bulb, bulb diameter, bulb height, wet biomass weight, dry biomass weight, and shrinkage of biomass. On the other hand, the leaf number per clump was significantly negatively correlated, while the leaf number per bulb and shrinkage bulb had a significant negative correlation (Table 5). erefore, the higher values of bulb weight per clump, weight per bulb, bulb diameter, and bulb height resulted in increased dry bulb yield of the Lokananta variety. e negative correlation between the dry bulb and leaf number (per clump and per tuber) indicates that the dry bulb yield decreases with more leaves. is may be due to the distribution of assimilates for vegetative growth more than for shallot bulb growth [33].

Conclusions
Lokananta variety provided the best growth components (leaf number per clump and leaf number per bulb) and yield component (bulb weight per clump, weight per bulb, bulb height, and bulb diameter) so that it gave the largest dry bulb yield compared to other varieties (Trisula, Bima, and Sanren).
is study recommends using Lokananta variety of shallots whose seeds come from true shallot seeds to produce the largest dry bulbs in the highlands of West Sumatra.

Data Availability
All data described in the Results and Discussion section are available from the corresponding author upon request.

Conflicts of Interest
e authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.  International Journal of Agronomy 5