Swarn Gulabi OP
- Crop Name
- Onion
- Variety Name
- Swarn Gulabi OP
- Segment
- Red Onion
- Plant Habit
- Semi-erect
- Maturity Period
- 125–135 days after transplanting
- Bulb Size
- 4.5–5.0 cm (equatorial)
Plant Characteristics
- Semi-erect plant, 50–55 cm in height
- 10–12 medium green leaves per plant
- Leaf diameter 1.0–1.2 cm
- Pseudostem length 8–9 cm; pseudostem diameter 1.0–1.2 cm
- No foliage cranking
Bulb Characteristics
- Attractive red, globose bulb with a thin neck
- Polar diameter 4.0–4.2 cm; equatorial diameter 4.5–5.0 cm
- Medium ring formation with purplish flesh
- Medium adherence of skin; flat root disc
- Symmetrical, single-axis, non-splitting bulb
Recommended Season & Region
- Rabi: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh
- Late Kharif: Gujarat, Karnataka and Maharashtra
Performance
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Season | Rabi, Late Kharif |
| Maturity | 125–135 days after transplanting (Rabi and Late Kharif) |
| Bolting | Almost no bolters during Rabi; less than 5% during Late Kharif |
| Average Yield | 28–30 t/ha (Rabi), 35–40 t/ha (Late Kharif) |
| Highest Yield | 45 t/ha (Rabi), 60 t/ha (Late Kharif) |
| Storability | Late Kharif and Rabi harvest suitable for storage up to 5–6 months |
| Total Soluble Solids | 11–12° Brix |
| Reaction to Major Pests | Moderately tolerant to thrips; field tolerant to foliar diseases |
Uniqueness
Uniform neck fall during Rabi, and more than 70% neck fall during Late Kharif. Bulb attains its attractive red colour immediately after harvest.
Package of Practices
Physiological disorders, Symptoms & Management
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Allium cepa |
| Variety | Swarn Gulabi OP |
| Soil | Red loam to black soils with good drainage facilities is highly suited for onion cultivation. It performs well at a soil pH range of 6–7 and a mild season without extremes of heat and cold. |
| Land Preparation | Plough the land to a fine tilth and form ridges and furrows at 45 cm spacing. Sow the bulbs on both sides of the ridges at 10 cm apart. |
| Spacing | 15 cm x 10 cm |
| Climate | Onion is a cool season vegetable and grows well under mild climate without extreme heat, cold, or excessive rainfall. Ideal temperature for vegetative growth is 12.8–23.0°C. Bulb formation requires long days and higher temperature (20–25°C). |
Season
| Season Type | Sowing Period |
|---|---|
| Rainy Season | — |
Fertilizers & Manures
| Type | Quantity / Notes |
|---|---|
| FYM | 20–25 tonnes per hectare before the last ploughing |
| Nitrogen (N) | 120 Kg/Ha |
| Phosphorus (P₂O₅) | 50 Kg/Ha |
| Potassium (K₂O) | 160 Kg/Ha |
Entire dose of P and K should be applied at the time of final land preparation. Nitrogen should be top-dressed in two equal splits — first half 3–4 weeks after transplanting, second half two months after transplanting.
Irrigation
Irrigate at the time of planting of seedlings and on the third day, and later at weekly intervals. Withhold irrigation 10 days before harvest.
Weed Control
Pre-plant incorporation of Basalin (2 kg a.i./ha) along with one hand weeding at 45 days after transplanting.
Special Crop Practices
No special practices required.
Diseases
| Disease | Symptoms & Control Measures |
|---|---|
| Stemphylium Leaf Blight | Small, light-brown lesions that enlarge and turn dark brown or black, leading to extensive leaf blighting. Control: Spray Mancozeb (0.25%) with Monocrotophos (0.05%) and sticker triton on appearance of disease at fortnightly intervals. |
| Downy Mildew | Pale green or yellow spots on leaves covered with downy, violet-white fungal growth during humid weather. Control: Spray Mancozeb or Metalaxyl. Destroy infected plant debris and ensure adequate spacing for air circulation. |
| Fusarium Basal Rot | Yellowing and wilting of leaves; roots rot and turn pink or brown; bulb base decays. Control: Seed treatment with Thiram (2 g/kg of seed) and soil application of Carbendazim, Thiophanate Methyl (Topsin-M) or Benomyl @ 0.1%. |
| Damping-off | Pathogen attacks the collar region of seedlings at the soil surface; the collar rots and seedlings collapse and die. Control: Treat seed with Thiram @ 2g/kg before sowing. |
| Purple Blotch | Small, sunken, watery spots on leaves that turn purplish-brown; leaves eventually break and wither. Control: Spray Mancozeb (0.25%), Chlorothalonil (0.2%), or Iprodione (0.25%) after one month from transplanting at fortnightly intervals. |
| Rust | Small white flecks on leaves and stems developing into circular or elongated orange pustules; severe infestations cause leaves to yellow and die. Control: Spray Tebuconazole @ 1 ml/ltr or Mancozeb @ 2 gm/ltr. |
| Bacterial Brown Rot | A serious storage disease; infection occurs through wounds; rot begins at the neck with a foul smell when squeezed. Control: Proper curing and rapid drying after harvest; discard affected bulbs; spray Streptocycline (0.02%) if rain occurs during maturity. |
| Smut | Dark, thickened areas on cotyledons; raised blisters on scales; lesions covered in black powdery fungal masses; stunted growth; plant death within 3–4 weeks. Control: Treat seed with Captan or Thiram (2.5g/kg); seed bed treatment with Methyl Bromide (1 kg/25 m²). |
| White Rot | Persistent soil-borne disease forming white, fluffy mycelium on roots/bulbs. Control: Seed treatment with Thiram (4 g/kg) and soil drenching with Mancozeb (0.25%); apply bio-control agents like Trichoderma viride. |
| Leaf Streak & Bulb Rot | Water-soaked, dark green oval lesions on leaves; tipburn; dark spots on wrapper scales; reddish-brown discoloration of inner scales; ring-like rot pattern. Control: Foliar sprays of Mancozeb (80% WP) or Chlorothalonil (75% WP). |
| Onion Yellow Dwarf | Yellow streaks on leaf bases; leaves flattened or crinkled; undersized bulbs; twisted flower stalks; poor seed quality. Control: Spray Malathion (0.1%) or Metasystox (0.1%) to control vectors. |
| Black Mold | Post-harvest black discoloration at the neck; lesions on outer scales; bulb surface turns black and shrivels. Control: Spray Carbendazim (0.2%) 10–15 days before harvesting. |
Pests
| Name of the Pest | Symptoms & Management |
|---|---|
| Thrips & Onion Fly | Discoloured, distorted tissue; scarring of leaves; silvery appearance in severe cases. Control: Dimethoate 30% EC (7 ml/10 ltr), Oxydemeton-Methyl 25% EC (1.2 ml/ltr), Quinalphos 25% EC (1.2 ml/ltr). |
| Cutworm | Drench the soil with Chlorpyriphos @ 2 ml/ltr for control. |
| Bulb Mites | Stunted plant growth; reduced stand; bulbs rotting in ground or storage. Control: Abamectin 1.9% EC, Spiromesifen 22.9% SC. |
| Onion Maggot | Stunted or wilting seedlings; plants break at the soil line when pulled; deformed, storage-prone bulbs if infested during bulbing. Control: Spray Spinosad @ 1 ml/ltr. |
| Leaf Miners | Thin, white, winding trails on leaves; heavy mining causes white blotches and premature leaf drop, reducing yield. Control: Chlorantraniliprole 8.8% + Thiamethoxam 17.5% @ 0.5 gm/ltr, or Cyantraniliprole 7.3% SC + Diafenthiuron 36.4% SC @ 2 ml/ltr. |
Harvesting
Harvesting is done by pulling out plants when tops are drooping but still green. Maturity: 100–110 days (direct sowing), 90–100 days (transplanting).
Yield
15–20 t/ha
Photos
