How to improve onion quality
Nutrition programmes based on crop nutrient needs are key to influencing both yield and quality. Crop nutrition influences dry matter content, firmness and storability as well as taste and pungency, all important factors in determining the quality of onion crops.
Balanced nutrition is needed for quality onions
Nitrogen excess can cause quality issues
Nitrogen has greatest effects on onion yield although too much nitrogen softens the bulb and increases storage rot diseases. However nitrogen can also influence quality by helping to increase skin thickness.
Phosphate has a positive effect on storage quality
Phosphorus has a positive effect on storage quality of onions and garlic, especially when high rates of nitrogen have been used.
Potassium allows higher rates of nitrogen to be applied
The use of potassium allows growers to maintain high rates of nitrogen for yield with reduced risk of storage problems such as rots or sprouting.
Calcium is important to ensure good quality onions
Calcium is particularly important for bulb density, integrity and long-term storage with minimal disease problems. Magnesium also has a role to play in improving storage quality characteristics.
Boron helps calcium uptake
Boron has been shown to improve storage quality, which could be associated with the micronutrient’s role in improving calcium accumulation in the bulb.
Recommended Yara fertilisers for onions
Related articles
How to improve onion firmness
Firmness is a critical characteristic of onion crops, particularly in dry bulb onions which are stored for long periods. Growers can influence bulb firmness by applying balanced nutrition.
How to manage onion taste and pungency
Taste and pungency are key quality characteristics of the onion crop. They vary among types and cultivars however it is well known that good nutrition is essential to manage these characteristics.
How to improve onion skin appearance
A uniform skin is a major element of onion appearance for the fresh market. A balanced nutrition program is also essential to ensure that the overall skin quality of an onion crop meets market demands.
How to reduce onion storage rots
Balanced crop nutrition can help to reduce storage rots by promoting healthier plants. Onions need a period of curing or drying in order to seal the neck, prevent invasion of diseases and rot and to create a bright, crack-free skin.
Onion crop nutrition programme
Yara's fertiliser recommendations and crop nutrition programmes for onions can help you to achieve excellent crop performance and maximise the yield and quality of all allium crops.
Onion nutrient deficiencies
Identify and diagnose if your onions are suffering from nutrient deficiencies and learn more about the symptoms and causes and how to control or correct the deficiency
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