This document provides information about onions. It discusses the botanical classification of onions, their origin in Central Asia, and their edible bulb. It describes the different types of onions grown in India, including common bulb onions, multiplier onions, shallots, and leeks. It discusses onion cultivation methods such as soil and climate requirements, planting seasons, seed rates, spacing, fertilizer use, irrigation, and pest and disease management. It notes that India is the second largest onion producer globally.

1. Bioved Research Institute of Agriculture ,
Technology And Sciences
Mohrab, Ramvan Gaman Road,Bhagotipur Srigverpur,
Prayagraj (U.P) Pin. No-211002

2. • Botanical Name :– Allium cepa
• Family :Alliaceae or Amaryallidaceae
• Origin : Central Asia
• Chromosome No. : 2n= 16
• Edible part – Bulb or leaves
• The edible portion is a modified leaves known as Bulb
• Fruit type- Schizocapic
• Common Name- Pyaz
• Queen of Kitchen
• Flowering structure is called an ‘umbel”
• Onion is valued for its bulbs having characteristic
odour, flavour and pungency, which is due to the
presence of a volatile oil – allyl-propyl-disulphide.

3. • The red colour of onion is due to “Anthocynin”
• The yellow colour of onion is due to “Quercatin”
The following types of onions are grown in India:
1. Common onion (Allium cepa var. cepa) – with large bulbs born singly
and propagated through seeds. It is mainly used as salad or in curries.
2. Multiplier onion or potato onion (Allium cepa var. aggregatum) –
producing small bulbs borne in clusters and generally propagated through
small bulbs. Mainly used for seasoning curries.
3. Shallot (Allium cepa var. ascalonicum) – Produces bulbs in clusters on
surface of soil. This perennial onion rarely produces seeds and is
propagated through bulbs.
4. Tree onion or Egyptian onion (Allium cepa var. viviparaum /
proliferum) – This viviparous plant produces a perennial underground
bulb and is not widely cultivated. The bulb-lets produced in place of umbel
are used for pickling and seasoning. Bulb-lets are also used for
propagation.
5. Chive (A. schoenoprasum) (2n=16, 24, 32). This is a hardy perennial
bunching herb grown for their hollow green leaves. It is propagated by root
division and is tolerant to extreme cold and drought.
6. Welsh onion :-A. fistulosum is very common in China and Japan and is
grown for its edible tops and leaf bases.

4. 6. Leek:- (Allium ampeloprasum or A. porrum L.
2n=32)It is a non bulb forming member of the onion.
Area and Production
• India is the second largest producer of onion in the
world, next to China.
• Maharashtra is the leading onion producing state in
India followed by Karnataka and Gujarat.
• In India, Onion is grown in state of Orissa, Andhra
Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and
Bihar.
• In India, Onion is grown in 7.56 lakh ha with
production of 12.16 million ton.
• Gujarat :- (24.86 T/ha) 1st rank in productivity in
India.

5. Varieties
Pusa White, Kalyanpur, Pusa Red, Pusa Madhvi, Arka Niketan,
Arka Kalyani, Arka Bindu, Pusa Ratnar,
Early Grano, Agrifound Dark Red, Udaipur 102 and Arka
Pragati
Soil
• It grows best in light soils which may be sandy loam or silt
loam with good drainage facilities is highly suited for onion
cultivation.
• It performs well at a soil pH range of 6-7 and a mild season
without extremes of heat and cold.
Climate:
• Onion is best suited as a tropical crop.
• The ideal temperature for vegetative growth is 12.8 – 23.0ᵒ C.
• For bulb formation it requires long days and still higher
temperature (20-25ᵒC).

6. Sowing season
State Sowing time Transplanting time
• North India – October- November – Rabi – Nov.-dec.
- June to July -Kharif- July-Aug.
• Tamilnadu - June to October
• Maharastra - October to January
Seed rate
• 8 -10 Kg of seed is sufficient for one hectare.
Methods of planting
The following three methods of planting are followed
1. Raising seedlings and transplanting
2. Planting bulbs directly in the field.
3. Broadcasting or drilling of seeds directly in the field.
Transplanting:-
• Seedlings are ready to transplanting 6-8 week after seed sowing.
• When seedlings about 15 cm tall are transplanted.
• Transplanting time -November –December

7. Spacing:
• 15x10cm², 10x10cm²,20X10cm² for seedlings, 30X10cm² for
bulbs
Manuring:
• 25 tones of FYM,60 to 100 Kg N, 40 to 60 Kg P2O5 and 60 to
80 Kg of K2O.
Irrigation
• It requires 14-18 irrigations from planting to harvest
depending on the season.
• At bulb formation stage i.e 70 to 75 days after planting
irrigation is essential.
Intercultural operations
• Control of weeds at the initial growth stages is essential.
• Application of Oxyflurofen @ 23.5% EC (1.5 -2.0 ml/L)/
Pendimethalin @ 30% EC (3.5-4ml/L) before transplanting or
at the time of transplanting followed by one hand weeding at
40-60 days after transplanting.

8. Harvesting
• Onion is harvested depending upon the purpose for which the
crop is planted.
• As a bulb crop is comes to harvest after 4 months of planting.
• Maturity is indicated by the tops dropping just above the bulb
while the leaves are still green.
Yield
• 25-30 t/ha
Bolting
• Premature production of seed stalk is known as bolting
Curing
• Removal of excess moisture of onion is known as curing.
• It is essential operation after harvesting.
• They are reduce sprouting and fungal disease

9. Storage
• Onions are stored in a well-ventilated place with lot of
aeration and sunlight.
• Onion bulb store well at 0ᵒ to 1ᵒc temperature and 64%
RH.
Diseases
1. Purple bloch- Sunken lessions
with purple colour appears on
the leaves, stem and bulb.
Control – Carbandazim-0.05%
(10g/10L)
2. Basal Rot-Seed or bulb
treatment with
Trichoderma viride, @ 4g/kg

10. 3. Downy mildew – control carbandazim 0.05%
4. Black mould-
Pest
1. Thrips- application of Profenophos (2 ml/l) or
Dimethoate (2 ml/l) or Triazophos (2 ml/l) for
thrips/leaf miner
cutworm management