Balanced fertilization onion high yield
Onion is a versatile, spicy leafy vegetable known for its balanced nutritional profile and strong resistance to storage and transportation. It has low production costs and offers significant economic and social benefits. Anhui Province is one of China's key regions for green onion cultivation. Since 2000, researchers from the Soil Fertility Research Institute of the Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences have been working on promoting balanced fertilization techniques in Xiangyang City, a major area for Welsh onion production, achieving remarkable progress.
High-yield onion cultivation can reach 5,000 to 6,000 kilograms per acre. However, such high yields require more nutrients. For every 1,000 kg of green onions produced, approximately 2.7–3.3 kg of nitrogen, 0.5–0.6 kg of phosphorus pentoxide, and 3.3–4.0 kg of potassium oxide are needed. The ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus to potassium is about 1:0.4:1.3, making it highly sensitive to both nitrogen and potassium. In the agricultural practices of the Huaibei Plain, excessive use of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers often led to insufficient or even no application of potassium fertilizer. This imbalance caused a significant drop in available potassium levels, worsening nutrient ratios and leading to increased disease and pest problems, lower yields, and reduced quality of Welsh onions, ultimately affecting economic returns.
Potassium application plays a crucial role in improving the growth and disease resistance of Welsh onions. A lack of potassium can result in stunted growth, shorter plants, pale leaves, and lower yields. To address these issues, the China-Canada Cooperative Balanced Fertilization Program conducted by the Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences has shown that balanced fertilization significantly boosts yield and improves both the internal and external qualities of onions. It also increases vitamin C and soluble sugar content while reducing harmful substances like nitrates.
Field trials demonstrated that applying potash fertilizer increased Welsh onion production by 22.3% to 28.2%, raised vitamin C content by 7.20% to 16.0%, boosted soluble sugar by 15.5% to 12.7%, and decreased nitrate levels by 22.6% to 26.5%. Farmers saw an income increase of 1,690 to 2,000 yuan per acre, with a cost-benefit ratio of up to 72.42:1 and 40.67:1. Over the past three years, in Linquan County, the demonstration of balanced fertilization centered around potassium fertilizer has covered over 35,000 mu, with an average yield increase of 20%.
The balanced fertilization technique for onions is simple and practical. Based on organic fertilizer application, for medium-fertility fields, apply 20–25 kg of pure nitrogen, 6–8 kg of phosphorus pentoxide, and 20–30 kg of potassium oxide per acre. This translates to about 40–55 kg of urea, 50–65 kg of general calcium phosphate (with 12% effective phosphorus), and 35–50 kg of potassium chloride (with 60% potassium). If soil fertility is low and organic matter is lacking, higher fertilizer rates may be used. Conversely, if the soil is already rich, the application rate can be reduced accordingly.
Fertilization method: Before sowing, 20% of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers, along with all the phosphorus fertilizer, should be mixed as base fertilizer and fully incorporated into the soil through deep plowing. The remaining 80% of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers should be applied as topdressing in two stages—mid-September and mid-October. This approach ensures optimal nutrient supply throughout the growing season and maximizes yield and quality.
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