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About /Vegetables/Onion
Introduction
and importance
Onion (Allium cepa L)
is one of the important condiments widely used in all households all
the year round. The green leaves and immature and mature bulbs are
eaten raw or used in preparation of vegetables. Onions are used in
soups, sauces and for seasoning foods. The small bulbs one pickled
in vinegar. Recent research has suggested that onions in the diet
may play a part in preventing heat disease and other ailments. Onion
bulb is rich in phosphorus, calcium and carbohydrates. The pungency
in onion is due to a volatile oil known as allyl-propyl disulphide.
Trends, area, production and yield
Onion is an important crop in all continents with world
production of about 25 million tonnes. There has been a progressive
increase in area and production of onion in Pakistan. In 1998-99,
the area increased to 84.3 thousand hectare, production 1138.2
thousand tonnes and yield was 13.5 tonnes/ha. The data since 1993-94
one as follows.
Table
- 1: Area,
production and yield of onion in Pakistan (1993-94 to 1998-99)
Year
|
Area
(000
ha)
|
Production
(000
tonnes)
|
Yield
(t/ha)
|
1993-94
|
70.3
|
911.5
|
13.0
|
1994-95
|
74.8
|
1013.1
|
12.8
|
1995-96
|
77.9
|
1097.6
|
14.1
|
1996-97
|
80.8
|
1131.0
|
14.0
|
1997-98
|
81.4
|
1076.5
|
13.2
|
1998-99
|
84.3
|
1138.2
|
13.5
|
The average shares of the provinces in the over all area and
production of onion, based on the data of 1998-99 crop are given in
the following table.
Table -2: Shares of
provinces in area and production of onion (1998-99)
Province
|
Area
|
Production
|
|
000,ha
|
percent
share
|
000,
tonnes
|
Percent
Share
|
Punjab
|
22.2
|
26.3
|
230.8
|
20.3
|
Sindh
|
34.5
|
40.9
|
457.0
|
40.1
|
NWFP
|
6.9
|
8.2
|
120.5
|
10.6
|
Baluchistan
|
20.7
|
24.6
|
329.9
|
29.0
|
Pakistan
|
84.3
|
100.0
|
1138.2
|
100
|
Production zones/cropping pattern
The major onion growing districts are Kasur, Gujranwala,
Sheikhupura, Vehari, Khaneawal, D.G. Khan, and Jhang in Punjab,
Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Sukkar, N. Feroze and Badin in Sindh,
Swat in NWFP and Mastung, Kalat, Chagai, Khuzdar and Turbat in
Baluchistan. These 21 districts account for more than 76 percent of
the total production of onion in Pakistan. More than 50 percent of
the total production comes from seven districts namely Hyderabad,
Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Swat, Mastung, Kalat and Turbat.
Planting
and Harvesting times of Onion
Province
|
Nursery
Sowing
|
Transplanting
|
Harvesting
|
Punjab
|
October/November
|
December/January
|
May-June
|
NWFP
|
October
|
December/January
|
June/Jully
|
Sindh
(Lower
Sindh)
|
July-August
|
September/October
|
January/February
|
(Uper
Sindh)
|
October
|
December/January
|
April/May
|
Balochistan
|
-
|
February-March
(Direct
Seeding)
|
August-Nov.
|
Production
technology and recommendation for enhancing production
Nursery raising, transplanting
and spacing:
For production of seedlings, seed is sown in seedbeds 6-10
weeks before transplanting in the field. Onions are transplanted
into the field 10cm between the plants and 20 to 25 cm apart in
rows.
Manuring and Fertilizing:
Well-rotten farm yard manure @ 25-35 tonnes/ha should be
ploughed under during land preparation at least one month before bed
preparation. Before transplanting, 70-80 kg of phosphorus, 50 kg of
Nitrogen and 50 kg of Potash per hectare should be thoroughly mixed
in the soil. This should be followed with a supplementary dose of 50
kg of nitrogen per hectare at the time of bulb formation.
Irrigation:
The first watering is given immediately after sowing and
transplanting. Afterwards subsequent irrigations should be given at
7-10 days interval. The watering should be discontinued before
neckfall.
Hoeing and Weeding:
As soon as the young plants have become established in the
field, they should be hoed for he control of weeds. Three to four
hoeing are necessary for controlling weeds.
Harvesting and Curing:
Onion bulbs should be harvested after 75% of the crop have
shown neckfall. Onion bulbs may be left on the surface of the ground
for field curing until tops one fully dry. Three to four days field
curing is desirable to improve the storage life of onion. One to two
centimeters of the top is usually left on the bulbs to prevent
entrance of disease organisms.
Province
|
Varieties
|
Sind
|
i)
Phulkara
|
Punjab
|
i)
Desi Red
|
Balochistan
|
i)
Sariab Red
|
|
ii) Chiltan - 89 |
NWFP
|
i)
Swat - 1
|
Source: Pakistan
Agriculture Research Council |