Assessment of post harvest losses in different treatments of onion (Allium cepa l.) Bulbs during storage at room condition

A laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the post harvest losses of onion trend in nine treatments of onion varieties (Nasik red) during storage at room condition. A sample of different sized bulbs of each five onion was taken from the store. These bulbs were kept in a ventilated room on raised platform at the Research Farm, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyala, Raipur. Dry and wet bulb thermometers were installed for measuring ambient temperature and relative humidity during study. Weight loss, sprouting and rotting were observed at 30, 60 and 90 days storage periods. The experimental results revealed post harvest storage losses in different treatments of onion by weight are as: (T₁= 22.96%) followed by (T₂= 20.49%), (T₃= 19.19%), (T₄= 22.61%), (T₅= 22.71%), (T₆= 20.42%), (T₇= 22.39%), (T₈= 24.54%), (T₉= 21.46%) in onion bulb respectively, the results further revealed that due to ambient temperature (35°C ±2) and relative humidity (below 75%) the sprouting rotting could not develop in onion bulbs. Overall results concluded that the result directly indicated that Treatment (T₃) has storability character with minimum weight loss it means the herbicide combination [Combined spray of Oxyfluorfen 0.125 kg ha⁻¹ and Quizalofop ethyl 0.25 kg ha⁻¹ (PT) and second application 30 DAT] is good for further use where onion storage is required and the study suggests that onion bulbs should be stored in a ventilated structure at raised platform.