COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE YIELD CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WINTER GARLIC VARIETIES LIUBASHA AND IREN

Abstract

Increasing the yield of winter garlic remains one of the top priorities for the development of domestic vegetable production, as this crop has high nutritional value and the demand for high-quality commercial produce in both domestic and foreign markets is growing steadily every year. Given the growing instability of weather conditions and global climate change, the scientifically based selection of varieties capable of combining high potential yield with consistent production of high-quality under various soil and climatic growing conditions is becoming particularly important, particularly in the face of fluctuations in temperature and moisture availability during the fall, winter, and early spring periods. At the same time, the lack of research on how individual winter garlic varieties respond to specific agroecological growing conditions significantly complicates the grounded selection of varieties for commercial production, necessitating an in-depth comparative assessment of the productivity and economically valuable traits of the most widely cultivated winter garlic varieties. The study was conducted during 2025-2026 using a comparative field experiment, during which two varieties of winter garlic – Liubasha and Iren – were studied under identical agronomic conditions. The experiment was set up according to generally accepted vegetable-growing methods, adhering to the principles of replication and random placement of treatments. Cloves were planted in late October-early November 2025. Throughout the growing season, key phenological phases were recorded, including rooting, emergence, cessation of fall growth, resumption of spring growth, bolting, inflorescence formation, and maturation. Biometric plant parameters, overwintering survival rate, and growth intensity were also determined. Harvesting was completed in early July 2026. After harvesting, a structural analysis of the crop was conducted, including yield, average bulb weight and diameter, number and weight of cloves, as well as the proportion of marketable produce for each variety. Statistical analysis of the results was performed using analysis of variance to determine the significance of differences between varieties. The study results revealed clear varietal differences in yield and a range of economically valuable traits. The Liubasha variety yielded the highest harvest, primarily due to the higher average bulb weight and diameter. The Liubasha variety has superiority in terms of large-bulb characteristics. Percentage of marketable product was at high level for both varieties, indicating well-filled bulbs and the suitability of both varieties for commercial production. The study’s findings provide scientific evidence supporting the advisability of growing the Liubasha winter garlic variety for commercial production, with a focus on maximum yield and large-clove production, whereas the Iren winter garlic variety, despite its slightly lower yield, is recommended for growers who prioritize stable yield formation in relatively shorter time frames and high marketability of the product. The data obtained allow for a differentiated approach to selecting a winter garlic variety depending on the farm’s production goals: the Liubasha variety for maximizing production volumes, and the Iren variety for consistently producing high-quality marketable products in relatively shorter time frames.