Growth and quality of seed bulb of four garlic varieties on different NPK level at Alahan Panjang, Indonesia

In West Sumatra, garlic is cultivated at Alahan Panjang at the height of 1400 meters above sea level. This study is aimed at obtaining the garlic variety and the fertilizer dosage of NPK able to yield both the best growth and quality of seed bulb. The research was a Randomized Block Design that consists of two factors with three replicates. The first factor was varieties of garlic (Sembalun, Lumbu Putih, Lumbu Kuning and Lumbu Hijau). The second factor was NPK fertilizer dosage (300, 600, and 900 kg/ha). Data were analyzed using the F test with a 5% level, and if there were significant differences, the analysis was continued with the Duncan’s New Multiple Range Test (DNMRT) at 5% level. The output indicated that the Lumbu Kuning brings about a better growth of the other varieties. The weight and diameter of the three largest bulbs of Lumbu Kuning and Lumbu Hijau after drying for one month are higher than both the Lumbu Putih and the Sembalun. The average weight of all bulbs having a diameter larger than 3.9 cm in a month after drying at Lumbu Kuning is taller at fertilizing 600 and 900 NPK, having such a percentage of the large size bulbs those are 29.41% and 28%. Both percentage and average weight of the taller large size bulb are factors to put into account to choose the suitable variety to cultivate for seed bulb to increase the garlic production.