ONION PRODUCTION
By
Phidelis Mubagwe
TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
General Management
Fertilization
Pest and Diseases
Post harvest Management
Budgeting
Introduction
• Onion is the third most grown vegetable
in Zambia.
• Onion is one of the few crops whose
market price is constant throughout the
year with very little variation in price.
• Onion is grown by Small, Emergent and
commercial farmers.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
Production and Site Selection
Soil requirements
Soil type- grows on wide range of soil.
pH- 5.8-6.8 add lime for low pH
Well drained soils
Good nutrient and holding capacity.
Always carry out a soil test
Choosing the right Seed
The following are the characteristics you
should consider when choosing the right
seed:
1) Market requirement (Color, Shape, Size)
2) OPV or Hybrids
3) Maturity
4) Resistance and tolerance to diseases
5) Storage period
Sowing
• Planting period- Feb-May
• Seed rate- 5-8 kgs per hectare
• Plant population- 700K-1M
• Spacing- inter row 15-20 cm,
- Intra-row 7-10 cm
- Depth 1.5-3 cm
• Sow method- Direct Seeding
- Transplanting
LAND PREPARATION
TRANSPLANTING
FERTILIZATION
BASICS
Always do a Soil Analysis to Know the following:
• pH
• Soil texture
• Soil nutrient status
Why is it important:
• Know whether to apply lime or not
• For fertilizer use efficiency
• Water use efficiency
Growth stages
NUTRIENTS & FUNCTIONS
Early establishment
• Nitrogen and potassium – promote strong
early growth.
• Phosphorus – maximize root development
and to supply reserves for season long
growth and good bulbing.
• Sulfur – encourage plant growth
• Boron, manganese and zinc – ensure good
shoot growth.
NUTRIENT FUNCTION
Vegetative Growth
• Nitrogen and potassium – ensure continued
growth and development
• Calcium, sulfur and magnesium – maintain
vigorous, healthy leaf growth and to build
plant supplies prior to bulbing
• Micronutrients – ensure photosynthetic
growth is not limiting
NUTRIENT FUNCTION
Bulb Formation
• Nitrogen – in nitrate forms to maintain bulb
development and early growth
• Potassium – peak requirements are during
bulbing – for yield and quality
• Calcium – ensure good supply to the bulb to
maximize eventual storage quality
• Micronutrients – to maintain leaf growth
NUTRIENT FUNCTION
Bulb Fill
• Phosphorus – encourage ripening, early maturity and
a big bulb size
• Potassium – maximize dry matter & sugar
accumulation as well as quality
• Calcium – maintain good bulb firmness and quality
with reduced storage problems
• Sulfur – depending upon the desired pungency of the
onion
• Boron – to improve storage quality and calcium uptake
• Copper – for good skin quality. Other Micronutrients –
less critical, but to maintain growth and prolong
bulking
NUTRIENT REQUIREMENT
FERTILIZER PROGRAM
PEST & DISEASES
Insects
• Thrips
• Aphids
• Leaf miner
Weeds
• Nutsedge
• Grasses
• Broad leaves
Diseases-Field diseases
• Purple blotch
• Downy Mildew
• Damping off
• Powdery Mildew
• White Bulb Rot
• White tip
Diseases-Post harvest
• Black Mold
• Neck Rot (Field disease)
Chemical Program
PHYSIOLOGICAL DISORDERS
• Bolting
• Splitting
• Premature bulbing
POST HARVEST MANAGEMENT
HARVESTING
• Stop irrigating three weeks before harvesting
• Harvest the onion when the leaves have lodged
• Loosen the soils when lifting the Onion.
• Cure the onion by allowing them to dry
• Cure the onions until the onion tops and necks are thoroughly dry and the outer
bulb scales begin to rustle
• Cut off the tops about 1 cm above the bulbs
STORAGE TIPS
• Place the cured onions in a mesh bag
• Use the thick necked bulbs immediately as they don't store well
• Store onions in a cool, dry place with good air circulation and away from bright
light.
• The use of fans is very important to keep onions dry and to prevent decay.
• Store onions at 5 degrees to 15 degrees Celsius
• Keep onions out of direct sunlight.
• Place onions at least one foot away from walls to provide air movement.
• DO NOT store whole onions in plastic bags as lack of air circulation reduces
storage life.
• DO NOT store onions with potatoes as potatoes give off moisture that can cause
onions to spoil.
GENERAL TIPS
• Bulb size determined by spacing, cultivar
• You will need between 400 to 600 mm of water during the growth period
• Do a market survey to determine the type of onion and size
• Minimize your costs to increase profits but never compromise on quality
especially with chemicals
• Have a fine tilth
• Check your basal, neck and soft rot during storage
BUDGETTING
