General advisory for drought/ rainfall deficit management in Onion Crop
In onion only Kharif crop (20% area) is rain-fed. Rabi onion, which is the main crop (60% area) and late Kharif (20% area) are grown as irrigated crops.
Thus, drought/ rainfall deficit has relevance mainly to Kharif crop. Kharif crop of onion is grown mainly in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat and some parts of Rajasthan. Following practices are suggested by DOGR to manage the onion crop in situations listed below
If monsoon delayed by 15 days
This does not have much effect on the Kharif onion as this crop can be transplanted from July to August. The nursery raising is rather easier, as onion seedlings are difficult to be raised under rains. The following strategies are suggested in this situation.
- Varieties having wider adaptability (suitable for Kharif as well as late Kharif) namely Bhima Super, Bhima Raj, Bhima Red, Bhima Shubra, Agrifound Dark Red, Arka Kalyan, Arka Pragati, Baswant 780 and Phule Samarth may be grown.
- The nursery may be raised during the second week of June in such a way that seedling of about 35-50 days could be transplanted.
- Raise seedlings on a raised bed with drip or micro-sprinkler irrigation system to use available irrigation water judiciously. In case, drip irrigation facility is not available, apply irrigation water through water sprinkler cans.
- Minimum three to four irrigations need to be given in nursery.
- Seedlings should be protected by providing partial shade nets.
- Apply stubble mulch (paddy straw) until seed germination to avoid evaporation.
- Apply well decomposed organic manures @ 0.5t / 1000 sq m.
- In the case of poor seedling growth, foliar application of water soluble NPK fertilizer (for example 5g/litre 19:19:19 NPK) may be given for quick recovery.
If monsoon delayed by 30 days
- The strategies as listed above should be followed.
- The other alternative can be to go for direct seeding of onion (Seed rate 8-9 kg/ha) on raised bed with drip or sprinkler irrigation system as this crop matures 1 month earlier than the seedling transplanted crop.
- Use sets if available for raising Kharif crop as this crop matures 45 days earlier than the seedling transplanted crop.
Rain deficit at vegetative phase
Three to four irrigations are essential during active vegetative growth stage depending upon soil type i. e. at establishment stage (10-20 DAT), active vegetative growth stage (30-40 DAT) and bulb initiation stage (40-50 DAT). To cope up with rain deficit at this stage the following advisory may work.
- Raise crop on raised beds with drip irrigation.
- Harvest rain water by making storage ponds which will help to provide two to three life-saving irrigations during drought. Irrigation water should be applied as per soil moisture level and crop requirement only.
- Spray anti-transparent Kaolinite @ 5% to reduce water loss through transpiration as per requirement.
- Cover soil surface with an organic mulch such as paddy/wheat straw, or fodder to reduce evaporation.
- In the case of poor crop growth, foliar application of water soluble NPK fertilizer (for example 5g/litre 19:19:19 NPK) may be given for quick recovery.
- Foliar application of sulphur 85% WP @ 1.5-2.0 g/litre for quick recovery during the active vegetative growth stage.
- Foliar application of micronutrient mixture containing Zn, Mn, Fe, Cu, B at 30, 45 and 60 DAT for better crop stand (5 ml/l).
- Well decomposed 20 t FYM/ha or equivalent other organic manures may be applied 15-30 days before transplanting.
- During a dry spell, thrips population may increase above an economic threshold level (30 thrips/plant), in that case, spray Profenophos 1ml/l or Carbosulfan 2ml/l or Fipronil @ 1.5ml/l for effective management.
Terminal drought
One irrigation is sufficient at 85 days after transplanting. That may be provided by drip irrigation using harvested rain water.
Note: The above strategies can also be followed for late Kharif and Rabi crops in case of deficiency of irrigation water.
Source-
- Directorate of Onion and Garlic Research
