Certified Onion Varieties and Seasonal Suitability
Onion (*Allium cepa*) is grown across three distinct cropping cycles in India: Kharif (monsoon), Late Kharif (Rangada), and Rabi (winter). Rabi onions account for over 60 percent of national production and provide superior storage longevity.
The Directorate of Onion and Garlic Research (ICAR-DOGR) has released specialized varieties engineered for specific daylight photoperiods, bulb globe shapes, and storage durability.
- Kharif Varieties: Bhima Super, Bhima Red, Bhima Dark Red, and Agrifound Dark Red
- Late Kharif (Rangada): Bhima Red and Bhima Shakti adapted to transition weather
- Rabi Varieties: Bhima Kiran, Bhima Shakti, N-2-4-1 (Navsari/Niphad), and Agrifound Light Red
- White Onion Varieties: Bhima Shweta and Bhima Shubhra preferred for dehydration processing
Nursery Bed Preparation and Seed Rate
Onions are primarily raised in nurseries before transplanting into main fields. A seed rate of 8 to 10 kilograms per hectare (3 to 4 kg per acre) is required to raise sufficient seedlings for one hectare of land.
Prepare raised nursery beds of 1 meter width and 15 cm height, incorporating decomposed farmyard manure and *Trichoderma harzianum*. Sow seeds in shallow lines 5 to 7 cm apart and cover with fine compost and paddy straw mulch.
- Seed rate: 8 to 10 kg per hectare for transplanted crops; 20-25 kg for direct broadcasting
- Bed dimensions: Raised beds of 1 m width, 15 cm height, and convenient length with drainage furrows
- Nursery duration: Seedlings are ready for transplanting in 6 to 7 weeks (40 to 45 days)
- Mulching: Cover sown beds with straw mulch for 4 to 5 days until radical germination occurs
Seed Treatment, Transplanting, and Storage Care
Treat onion seeds with Thiram or Captan at 2 to 3 g per kg seed, or *Trichoderma* at 5 g/kg seed to prevent damping-off (*Pythium* and *Fusarium*) in the nursery bed.
Transplant healthy 15 cm seedlings at a spacing of 15 cm row-to-row and 10 cm plant-to-plant into flat beds or broad-bed furrows. Withhold irrigation 10 to 15 days before harvest to ensure neck closure and prevent post-harvest rotting.
- Damping-off prevention: Seed treatment with fungicides and raised nursery bed drainage
- Transplanting age: 40 to 45 days old seedlings with sturdy pencil-thick pseudostems
- Field spacing: 15 cm x 10 cm on flat beds or drip-fertigated broad bed furrows (BBF)
- Neck cure: Field-cure harvested bulbs under shade for 7 to 10 days before cold storage
Official source
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Directorate of Onion and Garlic Research (ICAR-DOGR) ↗Related on KisanPe
Common questions
What is the recommended seed rate for raising an onion nursery per acre?
Approximately 3 to 4 kilograms of certified onion seed is required to raise enough nursery seedlings to transplant one acre of field.
Which onion varieties are best suited for long-term storage?
Rabi varieties like Bhima Kiran, Bhima Shakti, and N-2-4-1 possess tight neck closure and high total soluble solids (TSS), allowing storage for 4 to 6 months.
How many days do onion seedlings take to become ready for transplanting?
Onion seedlings typically take 40 to 45 days (6 to 7 weeks) in the nursery bed to reach pencil-thick transplanting size.
General guidance, not personal advice. For your farm, ask your local Krishi Vigyan Kendra or agriculture officer.
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