Best practice of Onion Farming

INTRODUCTION

Professional garlic is known as Allium cepana in English called Bulb Onions. Onions are a very important crop not only for domestic use but also for commercial production that can bring you a great income. Onions are a garden crop that belongs to a vegetable group.

This crop is famous for its nutritional value and taste in various food recipes. Onions are the second most commonly used crop in the diet of Tanzanian families. East Africa, and the Whole World. Onions play a big role in vegetable consumption especially for urban dwellers.

Garlic is used in the making of pickle, vegetable, meat and fish. Onion leaves serve as a vegetable. Onions are also used to make soups etc. In our country, garlic is widely grown in the regions of Tanga, Arusha parts of Mang'ora and Babati, Kilimanjaro, Singida, Morogoro, Iringa district of Kilolo in the Morogoro region and in the Ruaha River area, Mara, Morogoro district in Kilosa parts of Lumuma and Malolo, Mbeya Kilimanjaro and some parts of Singida Region.

In a well-cultivated field, it is cultivated in the climate with a variety of seeds. Onions produce as much as 10 to 16 tons per acre. Onion cultivation is one of the most beneficial herbs for daily use of garlic for human, health, medicinal and for soluble or mixed purposes. It is also a specific ingredient in recipes. Originally the insect was a wild plant in the Mediterranean Sea.

This crop is grown in many western countries, in mountainous countries in the northern hemisphere, including in Africa. Onions thrive in a temperature of 13 ° C - 24 ° C, the ideal climate for growing and growing seedlings in the nursery is 20 ° C - 25 ° C. Onions usually require a temperature of 20 ° C to 25 ° C in order to thrive and grow well. Heat over there makes the onions stiff and unable to make potatoes (bulbs).

Onion is used as an ingredient to add flavor to food, and is also used as a remedy for cancer of the stomach, ulcers and boils.

TYPES OF CONTENTS

Water onions are divided into three groups:

CLASS 1: WHITE ONIONS. These onions are white on the outside and rare as well: An example is White granex, snow white

TWO: YELLOW ONIONS.

These onions grow in golden color on the outside, but their flesh is yellow in color. These onions are sweeter (sugary) than other types of onions. Example: Texas Supersweet, Walla Walla Sweet, Granex Yellow Hybrid, Candy Hybrid

CLASS 3: RED ONIONS:

These are reddish on the outside and the inside grows with white. For example, Red Creole, Red Bombay, Neptune F1, Rich, Meru Super, Mangâ € ™ Red, JAMBAR F1, etc. These types of red onions are the most popular by consumers and are the most widely produced. So in our training we will focus more on these types of red onions.

TYPES OF VEHICLES

There are three types of onion seeds. FIRST NAME: GENERAL SEEDS: These are the seeds produced by the farmers themselves. These seeds are often grown unannounced by experts from the TOSCI seed control center. Farmers produce these seeds and sell them to other farmers in kilograms or grains.

Many farmers prefer these local seeds because they are cheap. These seeds are usually sold between 20,000 to 30,000 kilograms per kg. Since these seeds are of low quality, the farmer has to use a lot of seed to satisfy the needs of one acre.

For one acre a farmer uses 6 to 10 kg of seeds to satisfy their needs. As an agricultural expert I do not advise a farmer who wants to grow commercially to use these indigenous seeds because even his Harvest is unpredictable. But not all seeds produced by farmers are bad, no.

There is a system for farmers to produce seed professionally according to the law. The seeds that are produced by professional farmers are called quality declared seeds or simply called QDS. These QDS seeds have their own operating limits.

QDS producers must be trained and registered with the Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute or TOSCI. TOSCI also has a procedure for conducting inspections and issuing of QDS seeds for sale if they meet the applicable criteria. If they are not proven, the seeds are not allowed to be sold to farmers.

TWO: Â OPEN POLLINATED VARIETIES or simply called OPV. These seeds have been produced professionally through Open Pollination. These seeds are mostly sold by seed companies. The price is between 60,000 to 100,000 kg. This depends on the company and type of seed. These seeds per acre will use 3 to 4 kilos. Examples of OPV seeds are: Bombay Red, Red Creole, Rich, Meru Super etc.

THIRD NAME: LIGHT SEED (HYBRID)

 These are the seeds that are produced more professionally than the other varieties I mentioned above. These seeds have unique characteristics, such as high yield and yield, resistance to some diseases, rapid maturity etc. Others are made based on specific characteristics required by the consumer or the market, such as color, size (size), aroma, taste etc.

Also these seeds are sold more expensive. Its price ranges from 300,000 to 600,000 kilo. One and a half kilograms or 2 kg is enough for one acre. Examples of these seeds are Neptune F1, RedStar F1, JAMBAR F1 n.k

TYPES OF AGRICULTURE onions

Onion cultivation can be done in two types: Green House Farm

AIR STORAGE AND FABRIC OBSTACLES

The onion crop thrives well in areas where there is very little rainfall, very cold in the dry season and mild in the fog when onion matures.

The onion crop thrives well in well-drained soil. Soils that allow the roots to penetrate easily, which retains moisture as well as soft clay. Many places developing onions are also suitable for this crop. Areas of elevation above 1000 m above sea level are most suitable.

PREPARING THE GARDEN

Tractor plowing field, with cows either a hoe to a depth of 30 to 45 centimeters of steep ridges Set a width of 1 meter to 1.5 meters from the middle of the embankment and the embankment with a width of 1 meter soil or professional Soften Harrowing called. That is, the large piles of soil are hit by the soft soil. Harrow executed 2 weeks after plowing or 3A.

There are tractors fitted with a harrowing machine. The field should be prepared on a steep, open field that has not been cultivated onions for 2 -3 years. The field should be close to the source of water for irrigation. Defects or pouches facilitate irrigation, weeding and spraying.

PLANTING OF OIL SEEDS

Onions can be grown in two ways:

 INTRODUCTION: DIRECT PLANTING

How to Grow Onions Directly: Prepare the field well, keep the soil soft, free of pebbles. Apply fertilizer for broadcasting and mix it well with the soil.

The total fertilizer needed for one acre is 16 tons. After properly mixing the manure into the soil, create drills that are 2.5 centimeters deep and about 30 centimeters from row to row.

Remember these lines are like small narrow furrows that will be used to keep the seed. So keep in mind the dimensions. Put the fertilizer on the lines you made. This fertilizer should contain a Phosphorous nutrient. Examples of transplanting fertilizers include DAP, MAP, TSP etc.

If you spray fertilizer, mix it well with the soil. Apply seed to the furrows and cover with soil. Then water regularly as the need increases. This means that as the plant grows, you need more water. When plants are sprouting, prune the plants, and leave about 8 centimeters (cm) between plant and plant. The plants you cut down can be planted in other places. So the space for the plants will be 30 X 8 cm. That is, the line to the line is 30 centimeters and the spacing to 8 cm.

ROAD 2: TRANSPLANTING.

Here the seedlings are grown in the nursery for 6 to 8 weeks since the seedling is then transferred to the field. It is estimated that in 6 to 8 weeks the seedlings will have reached a good growth rate for transfer to the main field.

This is the most recommended method and the one used by most onion growers. In Tanzania the planting of garlic seeds in the nursery generally runs from March to May depending on the cultivation season.

So this farming takes place once the monsoon rains have ended. The dry season and winter allow for good onion growth. Onion seeds are grown early in the nursery. Seeds can be sown in row or by scattering in the nursery. In row planting, seeds are sown in a 10 to 15 cm space between rows and rows.

After sowing, the seeds are covered with soil and later by placing the mulch over the ridge. Once the seeds have germinated, the mulch should be removed and replaced with a haystack to shade the young plants. Seeds germinate within 7 to 10 days.

HOW TO GROW LOTS ON THE BOOK

Make raised seed beds about 1 meter wide and the height you like. The ideal length of the ridge can range from 2 to 5 meters. The number of bumps will depend on the number of seeds you want to grind. Apply rotten manure compost well. Scatter it well into nursery nurseries Install industrial fertilizer such as TSP or MAP.

Then mix well with the soil. Make sure the fertilizer, fertilizer for TSP Plants are all well mixed into the soil. Make rows that are like small furrows about 2 centimeters long. These lines should be about 5 centimeters from row to row. Apply garlic seeds to the rows and cover with a little soil. Cover your embankment with dried grass. The grass helps maintain soil moisture and the soil temperature will help the seedlings germinate well.

Water regularly. Irrigation should take into account soil moisture. Avoid over-watering the nursery as it causes fungal diseases like Damping Off. Remove the grass as soon as the plants start growing on the soil.

If it is a hot summer, make a hedge that will cover with a few grass to reduce the intensity of sunlight in the seedlings. Every drawer you can build for it. . Make sure the nursery has no weeds at all, as the onion has very shallow roots and cannot compete with the weeds. Transfer your seedlings to the main field once the seedlings reach 15 cm in height.

It usually takes 6 to 8 weeks from germination to transplanting. In areas of heat the growth of seedlings is the fastest, less than 6 weeks the seedlings grow already.

TRANSPORTATION.

Onions are best transplanted during the morning or evening. In the evening it is best to transplant the seedlings. Seedlings should be planted the same depth as they grow in the nursery. That is, when the seedlings are plucked from the nursery there is a part that grew underground.

In transplanting the same height that grew underground when the seedlings grew in the nursery is what should be covered with soil during transplanting. The planting space for seedlings should be 30 to 8 centimeters (30 X8 cm).

That is, the length of the row is 30 centimeters and the spacing is 8 centimeters. The space may vary slightly depending on the type of seed, but also depending on the size of the onion you want. If you want bigger onions, chances are, that is, they are grown differently. If you want small onions you reduce the chance, that is, you plant around.

USE OF THE FIRST BOX:

PNADIA GRAINS.

These are set before or just before the transfer to the seedlings in the field. These fertilizers aim to support the proper growth of the root systems that will help the plant absorb nutrients and water from the ground.

These fertilizers contain high levels of phosphorus, and are called Phosphate Fertilizers, this group contains fertilizers such as MAP, TSP, DAP, Minjingu etc.

STEP TWO: GROWTH GROUPS:

These fertilizers are placed during vegetative growth and are intended to give the plant good growth and good leaves that will produce enough food for the plant.

This action of the plant to make its food is called Photosynthesis and it takes place in the leaves. The main nutrient in this fertilizer group is Nitrogen (N). Some of the fertilizers available in this group include UREA, SA, CAN etc.

Also in this group are foliar fertilizers also known as booster.

CLASS 3: BREEDING / TREATMENT STORM

These are the ones that are used to help the plant bulb formation. The main nutrient here is Potassium. In order for the Onion to be able to build itself up and grow in good quality, it requires potassium nutrients. Examples of fertilizers containing these nutrients are Multi K, MOP (Muriate of Potash) etc.

These are the main types of fertilizers, although they also include the micro nutrients that are needed for small plants, although they have important functions in plants.

BUSINESS ASSEMBLIES of onions

MONEY

The onion plant has short roots, which causes the onion to be severely affected by competition and weeds. Short roots mean it does not have the ability to withstand weed competition.

Weeds have more potential to absorb nutrients from the soil than crop plants, which is why weeds grow faster than crops. So it is recommended in the garlic field to make sure you make the weeds on time.

The number of weeds depends on the type and quantity of weeds in the area. In the weeded area, weeds can reach up to 4, and in areas where weeds are not a problem the two weeds are sufficient.

There are various methods of weeding such as the use of herbicides, hand weeding and mulching.

IMPORTANT

The onion crop needs sufficient water throughout the plant's growth and especially during the onion. In the dry season (May to August) Irrigation should be done once a week with soft clay soil and onions planted in pods.

To speed up the onion maturation it is advisable to reduce the amount of irrigation water as they grow. It is also advisable to stop watering four to six weeks before harvesting. Since the full duration of ripening and harvesting of onions is 90 to 150 days depending on the type of seed.

Weed control and onion The onion is a highly resistant crop. Weeds cause a decrease in the size of the onion, spread the disease and cause stunting of the onions. In the garlic garden, weeds can be disposed of by means of small plows, hand weeds, and herbicides.

If you remove the weeds by dumping them, avoid digging deep enough not to damage the roots and onions, as the onion roots are very high. Applying soil to the onion stalks is an important step in preventing the onions from blowing in the sun. Make sure that the stems of your onions are within 5 cm thick.

There are also varieties of onions that give or prune their onions when they grow. So fertilizing the soil to cover the onions is very important.

VEHICLES AND PRECIOUS VEHICLES

A) White fog This disease manifests itself in a period of coolness associated with high humidity in the air. Symptoms of Detection This disease You will see purple powder in the leaves.

Leaves turn pale and yellow and later wither. This disease penetrates to the bottom of the onion and causes it to rot. Prevention It is advisable to change the crop type in your field by planting other non-community onion crops.

Crop rotation of crop varieties should be arranged so that the onions are not planted in the same area until after 3 years if the disease was severe. This should be done before you see any signs of disease on the onion. Spray medicines such as maneb, Dithane M45, powder zineb, etc.

When you see the weather that is conducive to the spread of the disease (ie the cold associated with constant humidity). During this period take the medicine every six days to prevent the infection. Once the disease enters the plant it is not preventable as there is no cure.

B) BROWN GROWTH

This disease can have serious consequences when the onions are in the garden and even when in the barn.

These lesions develop and form lesions that grow and rotate throughout the leaf or onion stem. About three weeks after the onset of the disease, all the leaves fall off and wither. This disease attacks the onions even after harvesting through the neck of the onion or any part with a scar, sore or scratch.

HOW TO PREVENT

In the garden, once you see an onion with symptoms of the disease, remove the herbs and burn them with fire to prevent or reduce the spread of the disease. For garden protection, take Dithane M 45 and other fungicides. These drugs will help reduce the spread of the disease.

Use rotation or crop rotation in your garden area. Never harvest any onions in the field you harvested onions. During harvesting, avoid cutting or causing sores in the onions, ie harvesting by cutting and not by digging with a plow. in a sack or barn.

C) VEHICLE DISEASE

This is a disease that comes from the soil and is caused by fungi in the fungus community. Over time the disease spreads and the roots die from withering.

Leaves also turn yellow and then the stem or entire stem withers. Preventive Use crop rotation instead of growing onions in one place from season to season. Plant the onion varieties that tolerate the disease eg Excel, L Granex, White Granex and red creole Onions are susceptible to various diseases and pests and cause shortages and crop quality.

In order to control the problem first the field should be checked regularly to see signs of attack. If there are signs of an attack, take preventive measures before serious damage occurs.

RESTORATIVE STUDENTS

There are three (3) types of pests that do this:

Onion Crabs These are the number one pest onion crop in Tanzania. It causes a great loss of yield. These insects are especially visible during the warm season.

Symptoms of detection Leaves attacked by these pests usually have bright white motifs.

In extreme cases all the leaves turn white or gray and later the leaves wither completely.

To reduce excessive invasion, plan the planting of onions in advance so that when the temperature is high, your crop is fully mature. Avoid the planting of garlic in a place that has a variety of onion crops such as slices, garlic, etc.

Other pests of garlic are worms that cut down seedlings and root worms. These are fought based on crop rotation in the garden. (THRIPS) Pests include Red lice.

(Thrips) who attack the grass, Damage caused by aphids, vary from season to season depending on the weather. Low rainfall and high temperatures cause an outbreak of pests. They attack the leaves by scratching the hoof and absorbing the water thus causing the leaves to become silver / siliver and later the leaves dry out.

Significant crop loss occurs. How to control these pests is: - Keeping the garden in a hygienic condition, Removing weeds in and around the garlic field, spraying pesticides like karate, selecron, dursban, actellic.

COTWORMS Sota or moth larvae cause severe damage. The caterpillars cut the stem of young seedlings at the base of the trunk above the ground. Sota prefer to eat at night and day to hide on the ground near the trunk. This damage dramatically reduces the number of plants in the field and causes crop losses. These pests are controlled by spraying drugs such as; Karate Dursban and Actellic and keep the field in hygiene.

RED SPIDER MITES These are very small insects, which hide under the leaves. They absorb water from the leaves and cause the leaves to become white. These insects form a white membrane around the leaves and stems. The plant fails to manufacture food and later dies. How to control: Inhalation of pesticides Karate and Selecron. Consuming crop residues Using crop rotation

LEAF MINER These are species of small flies, whose larvae attack the leaves, by sliding and forming furrows on the leaves. Caterpillars attack the leaves and cause the leaves to dry.

Significant crop loss occurs. Control method: Inhalation of pesticides such as karate Selecron and DursbanTreating crop residuesUsing crop rotations MAGNETS Onion seedlings grow very slowly, so in the early months, the seedlings are heavily pruned by weeds.

Two to three weeds are recommended and sufficient to keep the field clean. Use of herbicides is small but recommended medicines include Alachlor and Oxyflourfen (Goal 2E).

These herbs are good as they have the potential to kill a variety of weeds. Medication is breathed two to three weeks after transplanting seedlings into the field. Weeding after weed control is essential to remove weeds as well as to remove onions During the weeding, onions and open roots should be covered with soil to prevent the sun from rooting or picking onions.

VEHICLE BUILDING

The timing of the onion maturation depends on the type of onion as well as the local climate. Hybrid varieties often mature early, take 3 to 5 months after seeding. Normal varieties (OPV) and indigenous varieties do not have maturity (do not mature uniformly), mature in small groups.

They also usually mature for 4 months and continue to start germination. If your field is using irrigation, then the irrigation should cease 7 to 10 days before harvesting. Harvesting begins when the onion leaves begin to dry, lose their color and shrink.

The outer leaves covering the onion its thickness decreases. These are the signs of onion being ready for harvest. Early harvesting results in less mature onions, resulting in loss of water and less garlic during garlic drying.

Late harvesting also causes the onion to lose its color, decaying on the pods / leaves that grow covering the onion bulb. So the onion must be harvested at the right time to avoid any potential loss or delay in harvesting.

During harvesting, the onions will be grown from the ground, then cut off at the roots to prevent leaf growth. After that the roasting of garlic begins.

LABOR CARE

After harvesting the onion, the next step is curing and this is done right on the farm. Onion drying is the process of drying the onion neck. When the onion neck dries it closes the onion, it also shuts down the channels that germs can enter to destroy the onion.

Drying also helps to get onions with dry and beautiful skin. Skin means the outer shell covering the onion. After being chopped onions in the field you gather them in small batches, and then you cover the onion groups with dry leaves to avoid sunburn and cause sunburn.

Sunscald is when the onion is struck by the sun's rays that kill or destroy the outer shell, resulting in the onion becoming improper or attracting the germs that cause the onion to rot. Leave the onions for a week or two to dry, then pack in sacks for sale or for sale.

STORAGE STORAGE

Onion is the most viable crop that can be stored longer than any other vegetable crop. Onion after harvest is still growing, it is a living organism, meaning it goes through processes like breathing, dehydration etc. So its storage needs to be able to stay longer without being damaged.

This is in contrast to crops like maize, beans, which, if left unsafe, have a very low moisture content, and you can put them in a container or drum and cover and seal completely without air and air, and the paste will remain perfectly safe. But the onion is different, if it doesn't, the air will decay. Proper methods and systems of onion usefulness are very important for the survival of onions.