Yield and storability of onion (Allium cepa L.) as affected by deficit irrigation

Bulb yield and storability of onions (cv. N-2-4-1) was studied against deficit irrigation approach during rabi season of 2012 and 2013 at Instructional Farm of the Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Dr. Annasaheb Shinde College of Agricultural Engineering, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri. Experiment was carried out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 27 treatments and two replications based on different combinations of the quantity of water stress during different crop growth stages. Water applied per irrigation and soil moisture contents before and after irrigation was monitored throughout the season, while onion bulbs were harvested at the end of season and weighed. Yields and storage losses were higher with less water stress and reduced with increase in water stress. The highest yield of onion was obtained withoutstress and it was at par with 20% stress at bulb development stage. Losses due to rotting, sprouting, and physiological weight were higher in irrigated treatment. After six months of storage maximum weight loss (49.09%) was recorded in onions with maximum stress. while minimum weight loss(38.21.%) was recorded due to 20% stress during bulb development stage.