Collection: ONION

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The scientific name of Onion is Allium cepa. Onions belong to the Amaryllidaceae family. Onions are believed to have originated in Central Asia. Onions are a staple in kitchens worldwide. The Onion bulb is the most commonly eaten part, but the flowering shoot called the scape, is also used in cooking. The green Onion stems are often added to soups and other meals for a fresh, crisp flavour. Onion is also known as Pyaj, Ullipaya, Kanda in other Indian languages.

Onions are packed with essential nutrients like phosphorus, calcium, carbohydrates, protein, and Vitamin C. Onions are rich in antioxidants and are believed to offer several health benefits, such as lowering the risk of cancer and heart disease, improving digestion, etc. Beyond the kitchen, Pyaj have many industrial uses.

Due to the high sulphur content, Onions are used in the cosmetics. Due to the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties of Onions, they are used in the pharmaceutical industry. The colour from onion skins is used as a natural dye in textiles. Major Onion producing countries include India, China, Egypt, and the United States.

Climate for Onion Cultivation

Onion is a tropical crop. Kanda performs best in regions with mild climates that avoid extremes of heat, cold, or excessive rainfall. Ideal conditions for Pyaj bulb development include temperatures between 16°C to 21°C, a photoperiod of around ten hours per day, and approximately 80% relative humidity. While both temperature and photoperiod influence Pyaj bulb formation, temperature has a greater impact on seed stalk development.

Soil for Sowing Onion Seeds

Kanda grows well in a variety of soil types, including sandy loam, silt loam, and heavy clay. However, the ideal soils for Pyaj cultivation are well-drained soils that are rich in organic matter. Good drainage is crucial, as waterlogging can lead to crop failure. Heavy soils can delay Pyaj bulb formation and maturity, while lighter soils support better growth. Onions are also sensitive to acidity, so the soil's pH should ideally be between 5.8 to 6.5 for optimal results.

Land Preparation for Sowing Onion Seeds

The field can be ploughed four to five times to achieve a fine tilth. A sufficient interval between two ploughings needs to be maintained. Since onion roots grow to a depth of just 5 to 6 cm, the ploughing must be shallow. Once ploughing is complete, the land should be levelled properly. Around 25 tonnes of well-decomposed FYM can be added per hectare of land during the final ploughing.

Onion Seeds and Propagation Material

Selection of an Onion Variety: Select an onion variety based on factors such as climate, region, local market preferences, etc.

Procuring Onion Seeds: Care should be taken to procure quality onion seeds. At Desikheti, a wide range of onion seeds are available with the convenience of doorstep delivery.

Onion Seed Rate: The seed rate for Onion cultivation is around 3 kg/acre.

Onion Seed Treatment: Onion seeds sold by the private sector are typically treated with chemicals before sale. However, if the Onion seeds purchased are not pre-treated, they should be treated with Thiram at 2 g per kg of Onion seeds

Time of Sowing Onion Seeds

The sowing time for Pyaj varies depending on the region and season. In North India, onion seeds are typically sown in November. In Tamil Nadu, the sowing of Kanda seeds is done from June to October. In Maharashtra, farmers usually sow Kanda seeds between October and January, while around Bengaluru, the sowing season extends from June to October.

Method of Sowing Onion Seeds

Onions can be grown either by sowing seeds or by planting bulbs. Onion seeds can either be sown directly in the field or in a nursery, and the seedlings can then be transplanted into the main field. The transplanting method is the most commonly used for irrigated Kanda crops because it typically results in higher yields and larger bulbs. Generally, 8–10 kg of Kanda seeds are required per hectare, and the seedlings are transplanted when they are around 6 to 8 weeks old and about 15 cm tall. Direct sowing of Pyaj seeds in the field through broadcasting or drilling requires nearly double the amount of seed compared to transplanting.

Planting onion bulbs is often preferred on hill slopes or in terrace farming areas, where Kanda seedlings are more likely to be washed away by rain. Medium to small-sized bulbs are used because larger bulbs tend to bolt prematurely and can be more expensive. Around 10–12 quintals of Onion bulbs are needed to plant for one hectare of land. Generally, Kanda seedlings are planted at 20x10 cm² spacing, while bulbs are planted at 30x10 cm² spacing.

Nutrient Management for Onion Farming

Onion crops require 60 to 100 kg of nitrogen, 40 to 60 kg of phosphorus, and 60 to 80 kg of potassium per hectare. Apply the full amount of phosphorus and potassium, along with half of the nitrogen, in bands about 5 cm below the seedlings to the side before transplanting. The remaining nitrogen is to be applied as a top dressing approximately two months after planting.

Irrigation Management for Onion Farming

The frequency of irrigation for Pyaj depends on several factors, including soil type, climate, and the growth stage of the crop. Generally, onions require between 14 to 18 irrigations from planting to harvest, with the number varying depending on the season. Irrigation is especially important during the bulb formation stage, which occurs 70 to 75 days after planting. If the crop experiences drought during the bulb formation stage, it can lead to bulb cracking and a significant reduction in yield.

Weed Management for Onion Farming

In the early stages of Kanda plant growth, the plants develop slowly, so it's important to manage weeds effectively. One-hand weeding is recommended around 45 days after transplanting Onion seedlings to control weed growth. Since Pyaj plants have shallow roots, extra care should be taken during weeding to avoid damage to the roots of the Onion crop.

Pest and Disease Management in Onion Farming

Common Pests of Onion 

Onion Maggot (Delia antiqua)

• Maggots infest onion bulbs, causing considerable damage to the plants.
• Maggots burrow into the Onion bulbs, and the Pyaj plants turn flabby and yellowish.
• Smaller Kanda bulbs are often completely mined through by the maggots, leaving only the outer sheath intact.
• Multiple maggots can attack larger Onion bulbs at the same time.
• Partially damaged Kanda bulbs will eventually rot.
• This problem also persists during storage, affecting the overall quality of the harvested Kanda.

Onion Thrips (Thrips tabaci)

• Both adults and nymphs cause damage to Pyaj plants by piercing the leaf tissue and feeding on the plant sap.
• The Kanda leaves turn silvery-white and gradually curl and wrinkle.
• The drying of the Pyaj leaves starts from the tips and moves downwards.
• The insects are small and difficult to see with the naked eye, but they can be spotted moving rapidly on the leaves and flowers of Pyaj plants.
• This damage might prevent Onion bulb formation.

Common Diseases of Onion 

Purple blotch ( Alternaria porri )

• The infection typically starts at the top of the onion leaves, where small whitish dots appear along with irregular yellowish areas at the leaf tips.
• As the disease advances, these spots transform into circular or oblong, concentric, velvety rings. In some instances, a yellow halo forms around each lesion.
• The lesions gradually spread down the length of the Pyaj plant leaves, causing them to break at the point of infection and droop.
• The infection can also affect the outer scales of the Onion bulb, as well as the seed stalk and neck.
• As the condition progresses, the affected Pyaj crop dries out prematurely, which leads to poor bulb development.
• Eventually, the bulbs become dry and papery, making them unsuitable for storage or market.

Smut ( Urocystis cepulae )

• The fungus attacks the cotyledons of young Kanda seedlings soon after they emerge, causing dark, elongated spots.
• Pyaj Plants that are severely infected typically die within 3 to 4 weeks of emergence. Plants that survive are stunted, with brittle, distorted leaves that have lesions along their entire length.
• In mature Pyaj plants, numerous blisters appear on both the leaves and bulb scales, eventually rupturing to expose black, powdery spores. As a result, the Onion bulbs remain small and poorly developed.

Basal rot / Bulb rot ( Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cepae )

• The disease typically appears in Kanda crops that are around 30 days old.
• Initially, the Kanda leaves turn yellow and gradually dry out.
• The drying process starts at the tips of the Pyaj leaves and moves downward.
• Eventually, the entire Pyaj plant's foliage dries up completely.
• The affected Kanda bulbs begin to soften and rot. In storage, the Onion bulbs continue to decay due to the infection.
• This disease usually spreads in patches across the field.

Smudge (Colletotrichum circinans)

• Smudge primarily affects the scales of Onion bulbs, appearing at any stage of the plant growth and also during storage and transportation.
• The disease can cause damping off in Pyaj seed beds, particularly under wet and warm conditions.
• The smudge appears as a dark green to almost black discolouration beneath the Onion bulb's surface, on the neck, or on green leaves that remain attached after harvesting.
• The inner scales of the Onion bulb show small, sunken yellow lesions.

Onion Harvesting

Onions are typically ready for harvest 3 to 5 months after transplanting, depending on the variety. Green bunch onions are harvested when they are about the thickness of a lead pencil, with a small bulb, and are used fresh. For mature bulb onions, harvesting happens about four months after planting. Signs that the onions are ready for harvest include the tops falling just above the bulb while the leaves remain green. A mature Onion bulb is carefully dug up or pulled from the soil. The outer layers of the Onion bulbs become loose and begin to colour. After harvesting, the onion bulbs are left in the shade for about four days before being stored.

Onion Yield

The average yield of onion ranges from 80 to 175 quintals per acre, depending on the variety, season, and other farm management practices.