Integrated Nutrient Management in Onion-A Review

Abstract

Onion (Allium cepa L.) is a bulbous vegetable crop and cultivated in many parts of the world. Onion is majorly used in our daily diet for its nutritional value. In onions, sulfur-containing compounds and allinase enzymes are responsible for their lachrymatory effect and pungency. Flavanoid compounds in onions like kampeferol and quercitin show anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Globally, India stands second in onion production, book keeping for 10 % of total production from 16 % of total area. As per FAO data (2012), China leads the world in production (20.5 million tonnes), followed by India (13.3 million tonnes). Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Bihar, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, West Bengal, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh are the top onion-producing states in the country, contributing nearly 90% of the country’s overall onion production. Maharashtra stands first in production with 8,854.09 thousand tonnes with 38.09 percent share, followed by Madhya Pradesh (15.92 percent share) and Karnataka (12.85 percent share) (https://agriexchange.apeda.gov.in). Onion is a nutrient-sensitive crop and the nutrient requirement varies with cultivar, location, and season. Fertilizer recommendation for onion crop is 100-150 kg N, 40-80 kg P2 O5, and 0-125 kg K2 O per hectare (Source: NHB). Many studies have reported that 2.1 kg N, 0.75 kg P2 O5 , 2.2 K2 O, and 0.28 kg S per hectare of nutrients are removed by onion crop to produce a bulb yield of 1 ton (DOGR, 2015). Use of synthetic fertilizers alone causes leaching, increases toxicity, and degrades the soil environment. A Study by Kwaghe et al. (2017) have shown that nutrient uptake by the onion crop enhanced to 0.76, 43.82, and 2.42 kg/ha by the combination of both organic and inorganic fertilizers, thereby increasing the crop yield. Therefore, a rising need exists to provide an adequate and balanced nutrient application for attaining good crop yield and quality without affecting soil fertility status. This INM based approach for nutrient management has a positive impact on plant growth, agricultural sustainability, and fertility of soil. Hence to enhance soil fertility and to improve the nutrient uptake, the concept of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) could be adopted.

Influence of Fertilizer and Weed Management Practices on Yield, Economics and Post-Harvest Soil Properties of Onion (Allium Cepa L.) in North Central Plateau Zone of Odisha

“…Integrated use of both organic and inorganic fertilizers resulting the improvement in bulb yield can be attributed to a controlled release of soil nutrients via mineralization of organic manures (Prusty et al, 2019 andMishra et al, 2021). The INM approach offers "win-win" opportunities for increasing crop yield and soil fertility while lowering environmental impact (Gnanasundari et al, 2022). The beneficial effect of organic manures on yield might be due to additional supply of plant nutrients and improved physical and biological properties of soil (Gererufael et al, 2020).…”

“…So, it was inferred that the application of Pendimethalin (PE) @ 0.8 l ha -1 followed by one hand weeding at 25 DAT and fertilized the crop with 50% STBFR + FYM (Based on N requirement) combination found to be the most suitable, profitable and sustainable not only to secured the net return per unit cost but also improving the crop growth and yield by 50% reduction of chemical fertilizer. Plant requirements for inorganic nitrogenous fertilizers can be lowered using INM approaches, and a reduction in the usage of purchased fertilizers can result in significant cash savings for small farmers (Gnanasundari et al, 2022).…”

“…However, the lowest nutrient content was observed in N 1 (application of STBFR only). Combining different organic nutrient sources from organic manures, plant residues, biofertilizers, with chemical fertilizers would result in high nutrient use efficiency and improve (Gnanasundari et al, 2022).…”

Water management and irrigation for bulb onion (Allium cepa L.) growth and development in the Papua New Guinea Highlands

“…Regular irrigation may therefore be required to maintain optimal moisture levels and maximise crop yields (Al-Jamal et al, 2000). Moreover, precise water application management is essential to prevent any loss of nutrients through leaching (Ashrafi et al, 2020;Geries et al, 2021;Gnanasundari et al, 2022).…”

Using of Biofertilizers and Some Micronutrients in Improving Onion Productivity under Siwa Oasis Conditions

“…After planting, foliar spraying with trace element mixtures containing iron, zinc, and manganese had a favorable impact on growth and yield parameters . Gnanasundari et al, 2022 reported that, Microbial inoculants, also known as biofertilizers, would replace the extensive use of chemical fertilizers, improve farm productivity, activate the soil microbial community, and promote all aspects of plant growth. These microbial inoculants are a source of nutrients for plants that can be added to soil or added to seeds to help plants get the nutrients they need to grow.…”