Onion is most widely cultivated popular vegetable species. It is used for culinary purpose also it has several non-culinary use like it is used as moth repellent because of its pungent juice, it is used to polish glass and copperware, onion concentrated water can be spray on plants to increased plant\\\'s pest resistance. India ranks first in term of area and second in production after China.

It can cultivate on various soil type such as sandy loam, clay loam, silt loam and heavy soils. It gives best result when grown in deep loam and alluvial soils with good drainage, moisture holding capacity and sufficient organic matter. Loose and sandy soils are not suitable for cultivation as bulb produce in such soil are deformed with less keeping quality. pH of soil should be 6 to 7.

Nasik Red: Bulbs are red in color, long lasting, gives an average yield of 85-100qtl/acre, suitable for cultivation in low and mid hills.

Agrifound Dark Red: Released from NHRDF, Nasik. Bulbs are globular in shape and are dark red in color. The variety gets mature in 150-160 days after transplanting. It gives an average yield of 83-105qtl/acre.

Brown Spanish: Bulbs are round and egg shape, reddish brown in color and thick peel, suitable for cultivation in high hills.

Palam Lohit: It has attractive deep red and round shape bulbs. It gives an average yield of 204qtl/acre.

Other state varieties:

PRO 6: Medium heighted variety with deep red, medium-large and round bulb. It is ready to harvest in 120 days after transplanting. Gives average yield of 175qtl/acre. Bulbs are having good keeping quality.

Punjab Naroya: Medium heighted variety with deep red, medium-large and round bulb. It is ready to harvest in 145 days after transplanting. Gives average yield of 150qtl/acre. It is tolerant to purple blotch disease.

Bhima Kiran : Suitable for growing in rabi season. Bulbs are of light red color and having round to oval shapes. It is ready to harvest in 130 days. Bulbs are having good keeping quality in storage. Gives average yield of 165qtl/acre.

Bhima Shakti: Suitable for growing in kharif and rabi season. It is ready to harvest in 130 days after transplanting, gives average yield of 170qtl/acre.

Bhima Shweta: Suitable for rabi season. Bulbs are of white color and round in shape. It is ready to harvest in 110-115 days after transplanting. Gives average yield of 160qtl/acre. 

Early Grano: Developed by IARI, New Delhi. Bulbs are of yellow color. Suitable for cultivation in kharif as well as rabi season. Gives average yield of 200qtl/acre. 
 

Give three to four deep ploughing and bring soil to fine tilth. Add well decomposed cow dung to increase organic content of soil. Then leveled soil and divide into small plots and channels. If Sulphur deficiency is observed, then use gypsum @165kg/acre and mix well in the soil.   

Seed Rate
Use seed rate of 3.3kg/acre.

Seed Treatment
Seed treatment with Thiram@2 gm/kg of seed + Benomyl 50WP@1 gm/liter water effectively controls damping off and smut diseases. After chemical treatment, seed treatment with bioagent Trichoderma viride@2 gm/kg of seed is recommended; it helps in reducing early seedling diseases and soil borne inoculum.
 

Time of sowing
For rabi season, sowing is done in the month of November-December.
Medium hilly areas: October- November.
High hilly areas: April.

Spacing
While transplanting, use spacing of 15cm between rows and 5-8cm between plants.
 
Sowing Depth
In nursery, sow seeds at depth of 1-2 cm.

Method of sowing
For sowing use transplanting method.
 

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

Apply 100qtl of Farm Yard Manure or well decomposed cow dung 10 days before sowing. Apply Nitrogen@47 kg, Phophorus@32 kg and Potash@24 kg in form of Urea@105 kg, Single Super Phosphate@200 kg per acre and MOP@42 kg/acre. Apply whole quantity of Phosphorus, Potash and half dose of Nitrogen at time of transplanting. Apply remaining amount of nitrogen as top dressing, four weeks after transplantation.

WSF: 10-15 days after transplanting, sprayed 19:19:19 along with micronutrients@2.5 to 3 gm/Ltr of water.
 

Depending upon climatic conditions and soil type decide irrigation amount and frequency. At the time of sowing or transplanting or after 3-4 days, do irrigation to moist the soil then depending upon need apply irrigation with interval of 10-15 days.

Initially onion seedlings grow slowly, so better to use chemical herbicides than hand weeding to avoid injury. To control weeds take spray of Pendimethalin (Stomp)@1ltr/150ltr water/acre within 72 hours of sowing. Apply Oxyflourfen@200ml/150ltr of water per acre as post emergence herbicide 7 days after planting. Two to three weeding are recommended for weed control. First hand weeding should be done one month after sowing and second hand weeding to be done one month after first hand weeding.

• Pest and their control:
  

Thrips: If not controlled properly can cause yield loss up to 50%. Mostly observed in dry weather. They suck sap from the foliage and results in curling of leaves, leaves become cup shaped or curved upward.

To check severity of thrips incidence, keep blue sticky traps @6-8 per acre. If infestation observed in field take spray of Fipronil (Regenta)@30 ml/15 ltr water. Or Prophenophos@10ml /10 ltr water by 8-10 days interval.

Maggots: Infestation observed in January-February Month. They feed on roots cause browning of leaves. Base of plant become watery.

If infestation is observed, apply Carbaryl@1 ltr or Phorate@4 kg to the soil and give light irrigation. Or Apply Chlorpyriphos @2 ltr/acre alongwith irrigation water or sand.

• Disease and their control:

Purple blotch and stemphylium blight: In severe infestation may cause yield loss up to 70%. Deep purple lesions are observed on leaves. Yellow streaks get turn brown and extend along the blade.

Take spray of Propineb 70%WP@350 gm/acre/150 ltr of water, twice at 10 days interval.

Harvesting at proper time is necessary. It depend upon variety, season, market price etc. 50% neck falls is sign indicating crop is ready for harvesting. Harvesting is done manually by uprooting bulbs. After harvesting they are kept in field for 2-3 days to remove excessive moisture from bulb.

After harvesting and proper drying, bulbs are sorted and graded according to size.