Onion is most widely cultivated popular vegetable species. It is used for culinary purpose also it has several non-culinary uses 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 plants pest resistance. Along with fresh consumption, it is used in flakes, powdered, paste form. Nutritive value of small onion is more compared to large one. India rank first in term of area and second in production after China. Maharashtra is major onion producing state in term of area and production, followed by Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.

Maharashtra is major onion producing state with high productivity. Near about 1.05lakh hectare area is under onion cultivation and contributes near about 37% in total production. Nashik is major onion producing district of Maharashtra, other onion producing areas are Ahmadnagar, Dhule, Jalgaon, Pune, Satara and Solapur.

It can be cultivated 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.

Bhima Red: Suitable for Late kharif also. Bulbs are attractive red color. Ready to harvest in 115-120days. Gives average yield of 190-210qtl/acre.

Bhima Super: Bulb are ready to harvest in 100-110days. Gives average yield of 105-115qtl/acre.

Bhima Raj: Dark red variety, suitable for kharif season. Ready to harvest 100-105days. Gives average yield of 90-105qtl/acre.

Bhima Dark Red: Ready to harvest in 100-110days. Gives average yield of 88 to 96qtl/acre.

Bhima Shakti: Ready to harvest in 125-135days. Gives average yield of 140 to 160qtl/acre. 

Bhima Shubra: White bulb variety. Ready to harvest in 110-115days. Gives average yield of 72 to 80qtl/acre.

Bhima Shweta: White bulb variety. Ready to harvest in 110-120days. Gives average yield of 72 to 80qtl/acre. 

Bhima Safed: White bulb variety. Ready to harvest in 110-120days. Gives average yield of 72 to 80qtl/acre.

Agrifound dark red: Bulbs are dark red in color with 4-6cm in diameter. Suitable for early kharif season. Ready to harvest in 95-110days after transplanting. Gives average yield of 120qtl/acre.

Ankur white: Globular and uniform white color bulbs. 

Pusa Red: Medium size bulb with bronze color. It has good keeping quality. Gives average yield of 125-140days after transplantation. It gives average yield of 100-120qtl/acre.

Pusa White Round: White, round, flat bulbs. Gives average yield of 120qtl/acre.

Arka Pitamber: Early maturing hybrid ready to harvest in 110-120days. Gives average yield of 140-150qtl/acre.

Arka Lalima: Globular shape, deep red colored variety. It is resistive to purple blotch. Gives average yield of 160-200qtl/acre.

Other states variety

Pusa Madhavi: Medium to large size bulb with light red color. Ready to harvest in 130-135days after transplanting. Gives average yield of 120qtl/acre.

Pusa Ridhi: Suitable for kharif as well rabi season. Bulbs are compact, flat globular with dark red color. Gives average yield of 120qtl/acre.

Arka Bindu: Small size bulb with deep pink color. Early maturing variety suitable for export. Gives average yield of 100qtl/acre.

Banglore Rose: Small size bulb with uniform size. Gives average yield of 60qtl/acre.

Kalyanpur Red Round: Popular variety of Uttar Pradesh. Bulbs are brown color with globular shape. Plants are ready to harvest in 150-160days. Gives average yield of 8-10ton/acre.

Bhima Shakti: Suitable for growing in Kharif and Rabi season. Ready to harvest in 130days after transplanting, gives average yield of 170qtl/acre. 

Pusa white flat: White, flat, medium to large size bulb. Suitable for dehydration.

NHRDF-Red: High yielding variety with attractive dark red color bulbs. Ready to harvest in 110-120days. Gives average yield of 100-120qtl/acre. 

Hisar-2: Bronze red color bulbs. Gives average yield of 80-100qtl/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 levelled soil and divide into small plots and channels.

Time of sowing

For early kharif crop, prepared nursery in month February to March and carry out transplantation in April – May month.

For main Kharif crop, June-July is optimum time for nursery preparation and carry out transplantation in July – August month.

For late kharif crop, prepared nursery in August – September month and complete transplantation in October - November month.  

Spacing

While transplanting, use spacing of 15cm between rows and 10cm between plants. 

Sowing Depth

In nursery, sow seeds at depth of 1-2cm. 

Method of sowing

For sowing use transplanting method.

Seed Rate

Use seed rate of 2-3kg/acre.

Seed Treatment

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

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

Apply 20 tons of Farm Yard Manure or well decomposed cow dung 10days before sowing. Apply Nitrogen@30kg, Phophorus@16kg and Potash@16kg in form of Urea@65kg, Single Super Phosphate@100kg per acre and MOP@30kg/acre. Apply whole quantity of Phosphorus, Potash and one third dose of Nitrogen at time of Transplanting. Apply remaining amount of nitrogen in two equal splits as top dressing, 30days and 45days after transplantation. 

For Late kharif crop, apply Nitrogen@45kg/acre (Urea@100kg), Phosphorus@16kg (SSP@100kg) and Potash@24kg (MOP@40kg) per acre. Apply one third of Nitrogen and full dose of Potash and Phosphorus as basal dose. Divide remaining dose of Nitrogen in two equal parts and apply 30days and 45days after transplantation.

Sulphur is also important to obtained good yield. Depending upon soil test result, apply 6-12kg/acre of Sulphur at time transplantation. 

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

Depending upon climatic conditions and soil type decide irrigation amount and frequency. Overall, Kharif season crop required four to five irrigations. Apply first irrigation immediately after sowing. And second irrigation, three days after transplantation. Apply remaining irrigations at interval of 7-10days depending upon need and soil moisture. Stop irrigation 10-15days before harvesting. Avoid excessive irrigation. 

To control weeds, take spray of Pendimethalin(Stomp)@1Ltr/200Ltr water/acre within 72 hours of sowing. Apply Oxyflorfen@425ml/200Ltr of water per acre as post emergence herbicide 7days 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.

•  Pests and their control:

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

If infestation is observed, apply Carbaryl@4kg or Phorate@4kg to the soil and give light irrigation. Or Apply Chlorpyriphos @1.5Ltr/acre along with irrigation water or sand

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 (Reagent)@30ml/15Ltr water or Profenofos@10ml /10Ltr water by 8-10days interval.

• Diseases and their control:

Purple blotch and stem phylium 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 Propineb70%WP@350gm/acre/150Ltr of water, twice at 10days 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.