Onion Farming in India: How to Have a Successful Harvest?

Onion farming in India is a cornerstone of the agricultural sector, significantly contributing to the economy. Known for its aromatic flavor and versatile culinary use, the onion (Allium cepa) is not only a staple in Indian cuisine but also a major cash crop. This comprehensive guide explores every facet of onion cultivation, providing farmers with essential insights into maximizing yield and quality. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced farmer, this guide will help you enhance your onion farming practices effectively.

Onion Crop at a Glance

Biological Name: Allium cepa
Cropping Seasons: Onions are primarily grown in two seasons – Kharif (summer-sown) and Rabi (winter-sown).
Crop Type: Vegetable
Onion production in India: India is a leading producer of onions, known for its high-quality yield and significant contribution to global onion production. The major onion producing states in India include Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh.
Consumption: Onions are integral to Indian cuisine and are used in various forms, including raw, fried, pickled, and powdered.
Export: India exports onions to numerous countries, making it a key player in the global onion market.

Types of Onion in India

India grows a variety of onions, each suited to different regions and climates. The major types include:

• Red Onions: Known for their sharp flavor and reddish-purple skin, popular in salads and pickles.
• White Onions: Milder in taste, with a white, thin skin, commonly used in Mexican cuisine and cooking.
• Yellow Onions: The most common type, known for their strong flavor and versatility in cooking.

Other notable varieties include the small onions, also known as “shallots,” which are gaining popularity for their sweet flavor and are used in various dishes across the country.

Required Climatic Conditions

Onions thrive in temperate climates, making the choice of growing season crucial. Ideal climatic conditions for onion farming in India are:

• Temperature: Optimum temperatures range between 15°C to 25°C. Excessive heat can hinder bulb formation, while frost can damage the crop.
• Rainfall: Onions require moderate rainfall, ideally 50-60 cm spread over the growing season. Excessive rainfall can lead to waterlogging, affecting bulb quality.

The onion growing season in India varies by region, with different states adopting specific practices to suit their climatic conditions.

Soil Requirement

The success of onion cultivation heavily relies on soil quality. Here’s what you need to know:

• Soil Type: Well-drained sandy loam soils are ideal. These soils provide good aeration and prevent waterlogging.
• pH Level: Soil pH should be between 5.5 to 6.5. Soil testing is recommended to adjust pH levels accordingly.
• Organic Matter: Incorporating organic compost or well-decomposed farmyard manure enhances soil fertility, structure, and microbial activity, promoting healthy onion growth.

Land Preparation

Prepare the land by ploughing once or twice, depending on the soil type. Mix 5 tons of Farm Yard Manure (FYM) and 3 Liter of composting bacteria in the field, allowing it to decompose in open air for 10 days. Spread this mixture evenly over the soil and use a rotavator to achieve a fine tilth throughout the field. Along with FYM, apply 8 kg each of zinc sulphate and ferrous sulphate per acre before the last ploughing. Prepare raised beds, 120 cm wide and spaced 30 cm apart, using a tractor.

Variety Selection

Selecting the right onion variety is crucial for high yield and quality. Some popular varieties include:

• Bombay Red: Known for its pungent flavor and suitability for long storage.
• Agrifound Dark Red: Highly popular for its uniform size and deep red color.
• Arka Kalyan: A high-yielding variety with good resistance to diseases.
• Poona Fursungi: Uniform Shape, Size & Colour of Bulb, Suitable For Long Storage.
• Fursungi Gold: For Late Summer to Winter Season, Pink Light Red.
• Kailash Light Red: Light Red Onion, It is a very high yielding product.
• Desi light Red: Desi seeds – light red onion, It is a very high yielding product.
• Nashik Red (N 53): Excellent keeping quality, Good taste and pungency, Gives good yield

Consult local agricultural experts or extension services to choose varieties best suited for your region’s climate and soil conditions.

Seed Rate

The seed rate for onion cultivation in India varies based on the method used:

• Direct Sowing: Use 4 to 5 kg of seeds per acre.
• Transplanting: For transplanting, use 2 to 3 kg of seeds per acre.

Seed Treatment

For effective onion seed treatment, use Thiamethoxam 30% FS at 10 ml / kg seed to protect against sucking pests. Combine with Carbendazim 50% WP at 3 gm / kg seed to prevent fungal diseases. This dual treatment ensures healthier germination and robust plant growth. 

Nursery Preparation
To transplant in a 1 acre area, a nursery area of 0.12 acres (5 Guntha) is needed. Prepare six beds with dimensions of 3 m in length, 0.6 m in width, and 10 cm in height.

Sowing 

Line sowing is the preferred method for nursery sowing. Make lines 0.5-1 cm deep, spaced 5 cm apart, parallel to the width. Sow seeds in lines 50-75 mm apart to ensure proper growth, easy removal for transplanting, quick weeding, and effective pesticide spraying. After sowing, cover the seeds with a fine mixture of soil, powdered FYM, or vermicompost for uniform germination, followed by light watering.

Nursery Care

• Along with 500 kg of well-decomposed FYM, apply NPK fertilizer at a ratio of 2:1:1 kg per 500 m² before sowing in the nursery. Additionally, applying 1 kg of nitrogen at 20 days is recommended to produce healthy seedlings.
• Three days after seed germination, drench the seedbed with Ridomil at 15-20 grams per 10 liters of water to protect seedlings from damping-off disease. At 25 days after sowing, spray with 19:19:19 at 3 grams + Thiamethoxam at 0.25 grams per liter of water.
• Water the nursery beds twice daily until germination, then once daily after germination. Reduce water application ten days before transplanting to harden the seedlings.
• The nursery duration is 40 days. Plants are ready for transplanting when they reach a height of 25-30 cm.

Root Dip Treatment

Fill a flat container with 20 liters of water. Dissolve 40 grams of Saaf fungicide and 50 ml of carbosulfan insecticide in the water. Dip the roots in this solution for 5 minutes before transplanting. Root dip treatment helps protect the plants from soil-borne diseases and pests, ensuring healthier growth post-transplantation.

Transplanting Spacing Guidelines

Proper transplanting spacing is crucial for optimal plant growth and yield. 

• Follow two row planting on raised beds. 
• Transplant the seedlings on the beds 15 X 10 cm apart. 
• Cut upper ⅓ rd portion of plants before transplanting to promote growth.

Nutrient Management

Effective nutrient management is essential for robust onion growth. Here’s a detailed plan:

• Soil Testing: Conduct soil tests to determine nutrient deficiencies and pH levels.
• Fertilizer Application: Apply a balanced fertilizer, including Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K), based on soil test recommendations.

1. Kharif Season: Apply 75 kg Nitrogen (N), 40 kg Phosphorus (P), 40 kg Potassium (K), and 25 kg Sulfur (S) per hectare.
2. Late Kharif: Apply 110 kg Nitrogen (N), 40 kg Phosphorus (P), 60 kg Potassium (K), and 25 kg Sulfur (S) per hectare.
3. Rabi Season: Apply 150 kg Nitrogen (N), 60 kg phosphorus (P), 70 kg Potassium (K), and 30 kg Sulfur (S) per hectare.

Apply 50% of Nitrogen and 100% of Phosphorus, Potassium, and Sulfur as a basal dose. The remaining 50% of Nitrogen should be applied in two parts, 30 and 45 days after transplanting. Ensure topdressing is completed before bulb development.

Irrigation Management

For onion irrigation, use drip irrigation every alternate day. If using flood irrigation, water once a week, adjusting based on rainfall. During the summer season, irrigate every four days.

Intercultural Operations

Intercultural operations include essential practices to ensure healthy crop growth:

• Weeding: Regular weeding is necessary to reduce competition for nutrients and water. Use manual weeding or herbicides as needed.
• Mulching: Apply mulch around plants to retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.

Herbicides

After 25 days of onion planting, spray Dhanuka Onekil herbicide (Quizalofop ethyl 4% + Oxifluorfen 6% EC) at 40 ml/15 liters of water along with chelated zinc at 15 per 15 liters of water. Perform weeding and thinning after 45 days.

Crop Protection

Pest Management

Common pests affecting onion crops include Thrips, Aphid, Mite and army worm. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies should be employed:

Sucking Pest – Thrips and Aphids 

Thrips on onions cause damage by sucking sap, Common indicator of onion thrips infestation includes the appearance of white or silvery patches on the leaves. Aphids affect onions by sucking sap, causing yellowing, twisting of leaves and stunted growth due to their feeding activities.

Mechanical Control: Install Yellow and Blue sticky traps @ 10 per acre

Organic Control: Spray Azadirachtin or Neem oil @ 2 ml per lit water

Chemical Control: Spray Thiamethoxam 25% WG – 0.5 gm OR Dimethoate 30% EC 2 ml OR Imidacloprid 17.8% SL – 0.5 ml per liter.

Eriophyid mite 

The leaves exhibit incomplete opening, while the entire plant shows curling. Additionally, yellow mottling predominantly appears along the leaf edges.

Chemical Control:  Omite insecticide – 2 ml OR Oberon insecticide 1 ml per liter water. 

Armyworm 

The larvae feed together in groups during their initial days, primarily targeting the growing tips of onions, where they scrape the mesophyll layer for nutrition.

Organic Control: Spray Neem oil @ 2 ml per lit water.

Chemical Control: Spray Emamectin benzoate 5% SG – 0.5 gm OR Profex Super Insecticide – 2 ml per liter water. 

Disease Management

The following disease are harmful to onion farming and directly affect the yield of the onion crop.

Damping off 

The seedlings collapse shortly after emerging from the soil, often at or just below ground level. Affected tissues typically show a soft, water-soaked appearance.

Chemical Control: Seed treatment with Carbendazim 50% WP (3 g/kg of seed) and Drench with Copper oxychloride 50% WP 2 gm per litre

Purple Blotch 

Initially, small elliptical lesions or spots appear, typically transitioning to purplish-brown hues and encircled by a chlorotic margin.

Organic Control: Spray biofungicide  Trichoderma viride 200 gm per acre.  

Chemical Control: Kitazin – 1 ml OR Amistar Top – 1 ml per liter water.

Stemphylium blight 

Small yellow or orange flecks initially appear at the center of the leaf, which gradually elongate into spindle-shaped or ovate diffused spots with distinctive pinkish margins.

Organic Control: Spray biofungicide  Trichoderma viride 200 gm per acre.  

Chemical Control: Tricyclazole 75% WP – 0.8 gm OR Hexaconazole 5% SC – 1 ml per liter water.

Basal Rot

Affected plants exhibit leaf tip drying that progresses downwards. The foliage eventually dries out completely. Bulbs develop soft rot, and the roots also rot. This disease can start in the field and persist during storage.

Chemical Control: Seed treatment with Carbendazim 50% WP (3 g/kg of seed) and Drench with Copper oxychloride 50% WP 2 gm/liter. 

Downy Mildew

Leaves turn pale green. Cottony white mycelial growth develops on the leaves, eventually turning them from pale yellow to dark brown before they dry up.

Organic Control: Spray Pseudomonas Fluorescens 1 gm per liter water.

Chemical Control: Spray Avancer Glow @ 3 gm OR Curzet @ 2.5 gm/liter water.

Harvesting 

Harvesting onions at the right time is crucial for quality and storage. Here’s a guide:

• Timing: Onions are ready for harvest when the foliage turns yellow and begins to dry. This usually occurs 90 to 150 days after sowing, depending on the variety.
• Method: Lift the bulbs carefully to avoid damage. Cure them under the sun for 4-5 days, turning them regularly to ensure even drying. Once dried, trim the roots and tops, leaving a small neck.

Yield

The yield of onion farming in India varies based on several factors, including variety, soil health, and management practices:

Average Yield: Typically, yields range from 30 to 35 tonnes per hectare. With optimal practices, yields can exceed 40 tonnes per hectare.

Conclusion

Mastering onion farming in India requires meticulous planning and execution, from selecting the right varieties to managing post-harvest processes. By understanding the specific needs of onions, farmers can significantly enhance productivity and contribute to the agricultural growth of the nation.

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