Gibberellic acid helps make garlic bulb bigger

Want to produce garlic with bigger bulbs?

Apply gibberellic acid (GA3), a hormone that promotes plant growth and development.

Take this advice from Wilhelmina Castañeda, a researcher of the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Unit 1 (RFU)-Regional Outreach Station 2 (ROS) based at the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) complex in Batac, Ilocos Norte.

Castañeda said the application of gibberellic acid increases the yield of garlic by 56 percent, resulting in a 66-percent rise in net income.

The research project on garlic had the DA-Ilocos Integrated Agricultural Research Center (ILIARC) and DA-ROS 2 as implementing agencies. Collaborating entities were the municipal government units of the Ilocos Norte towns of Pinili, Pasuquin, and Batac and the Ilocos Sur town of Sinait; and Crop King Chemicals, a private company.

The Ilocos Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium, a government entity based in MMSU, also supported the project.

Dubbed "white gold of Ilocandia," garlic is the most profitable dry season crop in Region 1.

"Our very own garlic has the best aroma and pungency the world over," claimed DA-RFU 1-ROS 2.

However, it conceded, the bulb is too small to make it globally competitive owing to the cultivar used and soil nutrient depletion caused by intensive use of the land for agricultural purposes.

To recondition the soil, application of GA3 is essential.

DA-ROS 2 conceded though: "The technology is dependent on the right amount and proper time of application of gibberellic acid with the other growth requirements."

DA has developed a package of technology (POT) on how to make the hormone do wonders on garlic plants during crop establishment. – Rudy A. Fernandez