The National Horticultural Research and Development Foundation (NHRDF), Sangvi, has developed a dark red onion variety suitable for growing during Rabi season.
The variety named
Nhrdf-red (L-28) has been tested all over the country through the All India
Coordinated Vegetable Research Project and the Central Variety Release
Committee, Ministry of Agriculture, and approved it for cultivation in the
Northern, Central and Western zones. The institute has also developed practices
for its cultivation.
REASONS
FOR POPULARITY
It is popular
because of its higher yield, attractive dark red colour of bulbs and better
storage performance, suitable for Rabi season and recommended for farming in
Northern, Central and Western India .
It matures in
115-120 days after transplanting and average yield is about 25 to 30 tonnes per
hectare.
Seeds are generally
sown in raised nursery beds (15–22 cm height) for transplanting in the main
field. October-November is the best time for seed sowing. Sowing should be done
in lines in proper spacing at 5-7 cm row distance. Before sowing, seeds should
be treated with 2.0 gms of thiram per kg of seeds to avoid infestations.
Application of 20-25 tonnes of FYM/ha in soil is considered adequate. A dose of
NPK (100:50:50 kg/ha) can be applied for better bulb development.
FERTILIZER
APPLICATION
Whole quantity of
phosphorus, potash and half of nitrogen should be mixed in the soil before
transplanting. Rest half doses of nitrogen should be given as top dressing in
two equal split doses, first dose at 30 days after transplanting and second
dose at 45 days after transplanting.
The top dressing
must be completed before initiation of bulbing. 7-8 weeks old seedlings are
recommended for transplanting in main field. The best time of transplanting in
Northern and Eastern India is end of December
to first week of January.
About 12-15
irrigations, 3.5 lit of stomp per hectare applied three days after
transplanting and one hand weeding at 45 days gives better results.
R. P. Gupta,
Director & R. K. Singh, Assistant Director (Hort), NHRDF, Chitegaon
Phata, Darna Sangvi post , Nashik, Maharashtra.
Keywords: Horticultural
Research, rabi
season, onion
cultivation
http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/agriculture/new-dark-red-onion-variety-for-north-india/article3889362.ece
