Mineral nutrient management in

Onion

Index

▪ Introduction
▪ Nutrient Management
▪ Soil pH
▪ Management of specific nutrients
▪ Types of onion
▪ Deficiencies of Nutrients
▪ Nutritional requirements
▪ References

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Introduction

▪ Onion (Allium cepa L. , member of the Liliaceae family) is a

herbaceous plant that is cultivated either as biannual or
perennial.
▪ Onions are among the most widely adapted vegetable
crops.
▪ World production is nearly 85 million tons of bulbs on some
4.4 million ha.
▪ Onions can be grown on all types of soil such as sandy loam,
silt loam and heavy clay soils.
▪ medium texture soil preferred.

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Soil pH

▪ pH range of 6-7 is optimal for onion growth.

▪ When pH drops below 5.5, magnesium and molybdenum
availability decline .
▪ When the pH exceeds 6.5 zinc, manganese and iron become
deficient.

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Nutrient management

Nutrient uptake
▪ The sparse, shallow root system of the onion calls for careful
management of water and nutrients, to ensure adequate
availability.
▪ P, K and metal micronutrients, which are relatively immobile,
are not easily reached by the roots, while mobile nutrients,
such as nitrogen, tend to leach below the roots zone.
▪ basic fertilization can be applied in two doses. The first
before sowing and the second immediately after sprouting.

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Management

▪ Most nutrients uptake takes place from the start of the bulb
initiation stage and during the bulb development.
▪ Improved nutrient management, by means of fertigation ,
will not only improve the onion yield, but also will enhance
nutrient use efficiency that will give the grower a better
return while minimizing environmental risks.

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Nitrogen

▪ Onions require a high source of nitrogen. A nitrogen-

based fertilizer (ammonium sulfate or ammonium nitrate)
should be applied .
▪ Nitrogen application rates depend on soil type, rainfall,
irrigation, plant population, and method and timing of
application.

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Nitrogen uptake

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Phosphorous

▪ Phosphorus is essential element for root development.

▪ Phosphorus can be translocated from the old leaves to the
bulb during the bulb development and maturing stages.
▪ Mostly phosphorus is apply in soil before planting and apply
it until the bulb development stage will be start.

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Potassium

▪ Important factors
▪ Plant water relations.
▪ Cell-wall formation.
▪ Energy reactions in the plant.
▪ Potassium will be added in soil in 2 splits. 30-50 percents
before planting and the remaining will be add during bulb
development stage.

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Magnesium

▪ Its levels in the soil must be sufficient for good onion

growth.
▪ If Mg level is low, apply 30 kilograms per hectare of Mg in the
pre-plant fertilizer.

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Sulfur

▪ Do not completely eliminate S from the fertility program.

▪ Apply elemental S half at transplanting stage and half
applied before the bulb development stage.
▪ Application rates should not exceed 45 - 70 kg S /ha.

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Boron

▪ It is required when transplanted onions in the field.

▪ If the soil test detects a low B level, 1.0 kg B /ha.
▪ Do not exceed the recommended amount since boron can be
toxic to onions

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Zinc

▪ Its levels determined to be low by soil testing

▪ It can be corrected by applying 6 kg/ha of Zn.
▪ Excessive amounts of Zn can be toxic, so apply only if
needed.

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Deficiencies of nutrients

▪ Zinc Deficiencies result twisting and chlorosis of the leaves.

Onions are very sensitive to zinc deficiencies.
▪ Boron Deficiencies result stunted plant growth. Leaves
become brittle and may turn a gray-green to a blue-green
color.
▪ Manganese Deficiencies result in slow growth, delayed
maturity.

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Deficiencies

▪ Onions are very sensitive to manganese deficiencies.

▪ Magnesium Deficiencies result in slow plant growth with the
older leaves uniformly become yellow.

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Deficiency of specific nutrients (Potassium)

▪ Potassium:
▪ Leaves drop.
▪ Older leaves become wilt.

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Nutritional requirements

▪ Nutritional requirements for production of six tons of dry

onion (kg/hec)
TYPES N P K Ca
SEED 12-60 14-18 22-26 6-8

IMMATURE 16-22 12-16 18-22 4-6

ONION
SPRING 18-22 8-12 16-18 4-6
ONION

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References:

▪ Sullivan, D. M., Brown, B. D., Shock, C. C., Horneck, D. A.,

Stevens, R. G., Pelter, G. Q., & Feibert, E. B. G.
(2001). Nutrient management for onions in the Pacific
Northwest. [Covallis, Or.]: Oregon State University Extension
Service.
▪ Boyhan, G. E., Hicks, R. J., Torrance, R. L., Riner, C. M., & Hill,
C. R. (2010). Evaluation of poultry litter and organic fertilizer
rate and source for production of organic short-day
onions. HortTechnology, 20(2), 304-307.

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