Effect of Integrated Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Farmyard Manure on Post-Harvest Quality and Storability of Onion (Allium Cepa L.)
Keywords:
Farmyard manure, inorganic N P, onion, shelf life, qualityAbstract
A series of laboratory experiments were conducted during the 2011 and 2012 growing season under irrigation using 12 treatment combinations of NP and FYM at Melkassa Research Centre in the Central Rift Valley Region of Ethiopia. The objective of the experiment was to investigate the effect of integrated NP and FYM use on postharvest quality and shelf life of Bombay red onion bulbs. The experiment was laid out as a randomized complete block design with three replications per treatment in the store. Results of the study revealed that combined application of fertilizer at 51.75 kg N+ 69 kg P2O5 + 5 t FYM ha-1resulted in minimum physiological weight loss of bulbs throughout the whole storage period. Sprouting was lowest in bulbs treated with 51.75 kg N+ 69 kg P2O5 + 5 t FYM ha-1 while it was highest at 138 kg N+ 184 P2O5kg+40 t FYM ha-1. Application of 34.5 kg N+ 46 kg P2O5 + 10 t FYM ha-1led to minimum bulb rotting. Total soluble solids(TSS) and percent dry matter recorded maximum with application of 51.75 kg N+ 69 kg P2O5 + 5 t FYM ha-1. Pyruvate content of onion bulbs showed an increasing trend with increasing rates of fertilizer combinations, where treatment having 138 kg N+ 184 P2O5 kg+ 40 t FYM ha-1recorded the highest. Highest marketability was recorded in bulbs treated with 86.25 kg N+115 kg P2O5+25 t FYM ha-1fertilizer combinations. Marketability of bulbs dropped to about 85% after six weeks and 40% after 12 weeks of storage while the best treatment recorded 94% and 61.5% at respective storage periods. From results of the study, integrated application of 69 kg N+ 92 kg P2O5 + 20 t FYM ha-1can be a good compromise for postharvest quality and shelf life of Bombay Red onion bulbs in the central Rift Valley region of Ethiopia.
References
Anderson, J.W., 1990. Sulfur metabolism in plants, in The Biochemistry of Plants, A Comprehensive Treatise, Academic Press, New York, NY.
Anonymous, 1996. Studies on effect of different organic manures and inorganic fertilizers on yield and quality of rabi onion. In: Annual report of National. Horticultural Research. Development Foundation, Nasik, p.5.
Brewster, J. L., 2008. Onions and other vegetable Alliums. Vol.II. CABI International.
Brewster, J.L., 1994. Onions and other vegetable Alliums. CAB International, Wallingford, UK.
Chope, G.A., L.A. Terry, and P.J. White, 2006. Effect of controlled atmosphere storage on abscisic acid concentration and other biochemical attributes of onion bulbs. Postharvest Biology and Technology. 39:233-242.
Choudhury, M., 2006. Recent Developments in Reducing Postharvest Losses in the Asia-Pacific Region. pp.15-22. In: S.R. Rosa, (Eds.). Postharvest Management of Fruit and Vegetables in the Asia-Pacific Region. Reports of the APO seminar on Reduction of Postharvest Losses of Fruit and Vegetables held in India, 5–11 October 2004. Asian Productivity Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy.
Chung, B., 1989. Irrigation and bulb onion quality. Acta Horticulture, 247: 233-237.
Coolong, T.W., and W.M. Randle, 2003. Sulfur and nitrogen availability interact to affect the flavor biosynthetic pathway in onion. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 128: 776–783.
CSA(Central Statistical Authority), 2002. Ethiopia Agricultural, Sample Enumeration of ETFRUIT. Annual Report. 983/84- 1997/98 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Dankhar, B.S and J. Singh, 1991. Effect of Nitrogen, Potash and Zinc on storage loss of onion bulbs (Allium cepa L.). Journal of Vegetable Science 18:16-23.
Endeshaw Habte, Shimelis Aklilu, Laike Kebede. 2008. Participatory Demonstration-cum-Evaluation of Naturally Ventilated Onion Stores on Small Scale Onion Growing Farmers’ Field of the Central Rift Valley. Pp. 1-22. In: Tesfaye Aredo, Bedru Beshir, Lemma Dessalegn, Wole Kinati, Taha Mume, Maki Niioka, Berhanu Shilima, Kiyoshi Shiratori, Nega Tola, and Mohamed Yesuf (eds.). FRG completed research reports. EIAR, OARI and JICA.
Fekadu Tadesse, 1991. Postharvest losses of fruit and vegetable in horticultural state farms, Ethiopia. Acta Hort. 270: 261- 270.
Hansen, S.L, Henriksen, K., 2001. Increasing the dry matter production in bulb onions (Allium cepa L.). Denmark Department of Fruit, Vegetable Food Science, 2: 147-152.
Jahanzab, G. and G. Nabi, 2005. Onion marketing in Swat. Restructuring of horticulture research and development in NWFP. Agricultural Research Institute. Tarnab, Peshawar. pp. 18
Jawadagi, R.S., 2011. Studies on Organic Production Technology in Onion (Allium cepa l.) cv. Bellary Red. PhD. Thesis presented to the school of graduate studies of University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad.227p.
Komochi, S., 1990. Bulb Dormancy and Storage Physiology in Onions and Allied Crops. In: Rabinowwitch, H.D., Brewsten, J.L. (Eds.), Vol. I. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
Koprivova A, M Suter, R.O.D. Camp, C. Brunold and S. Kopriva, 2000. Regulation of sulfate assimilation by nitrogen in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiology 122:737–746
Kukanoor, L., 2005, Post-harvest studies in onion Cv. N 53, Ph. D. Thesis, presented to the school of graduate studies of University of Agricultural Science, Dharwad.
Kultunov, V.A., 1984, Garlic organic fertilization. pp. 318-326. In: Mitra, S. L., Sadhu, M. K. and Bose, T. K., Naya Prakash (Eds)., Nutrition of vegetable crops. Culcutta, India.
Lemma Dessalegn and Shimelis Aklilu, 2003. Onion Research results and experiences in dry bulb and seed production in Ethiopia. Vegetable Crops Improvement Research Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization, Melkassa Agricultural Research Center. 39p.
Madan, P. S. and Sandhu, S., 1983, Studies on the storage behavior of white onion (Allium cepa L.) variety as influenced by levels of N, P and K. Haryana Agricultural Journal Research, 13 (3): 433-438.
Marwat, S.K., F. Rehman, M.A. Khan, M. Ahmad, M. Zafar and S. Ghulam, 2011. Medicinal folk recipes used as traditional phytotherapies in District Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 43(3): 1453-1462. Mohammed, M., L.A. Wilson and P.L. Gomes, 1999. Postharvest Physiology and Storage of Tropical and Subtropical Fruits. CAB International, West Bengal, India.
Morsy, M.G.; R.A. Marey; S.S. Karam and A.M.A. Abo-Dahab, 2012. Productivity and storability of onion as influenced by the different levels of NPK fertilization. Journal of Agricultural Research of Kafer El-Sheikh University, 38(1) 2012 1 7 1-186
MoWR (Ministry of Water Resources), 2007. Awash river basin flood control and watershed management study Project, Phase-2 Summary Report, Vol-2 Annex-B, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Nabi, G., R. Abdur, J. Sayed Abbas, Farhatullah, M. Fazal and H. Ibrar Shah, 2010. Influence of different levels of potash on the quantity, quality and storage life of onion bulbs. Pakistan Journal Botany, 42(3): 2151-2163.
Patil, J.D., G.Y. Desale and P.N. Kale, 1986. Genetic variability studies in onion. Journal Maharashtra Agricultural University, 11 (3): 281-283.
Patil, M.P., 1995, Integrated Nutrient Management in Commercial Vegetables. M.Sc. (Agri.) Thesis, presented to the school of graduate studies of Univ. Agric. Sci., Dharwad.
Peiris, K.H.S., J.L.Mallon and S.J. Kays, 1997. Respiratory rate and vital heat of some specialty vegetables at various storage temperatures. Horticulture Technology 7: 46- 49.
Randle W.M and Bussard ML., 1993. Streamlining onion Pungency analysis. Journal of Horticultural Science, 28: 60.
Randle, M.W., 1998. Nitrogen and its interaction with sulfur will affect onion flavors.p.21. In: Boyhan George(Eds.). National Onion (and other Alliums) Research Conference, Vegetable research and Information Center, University of California, Davis http:flvricMCdavis.edu, December 10-12, 1998 , Sacramento, California, USA
Rao, K.P and Srinivas, K., 1990, Studies on storage behavior of onion as influenced by the Nitrogen fertilization. Indian Food Packer, 44: 5-11.
Samson Laike, Ketema Tilahun and Tilahun Hordofa, 2006. Crop Coefficient of Haricot Bean at Melkassa, Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics, 107(1): 33-40
Sankar, V., D. Veeraragavathatham and M. Kannan, 2005. Post-harvest Storage life of Onion influenced by Organic farming practices. pp. 104-105. In: NRCG Report, National Symposium on current trends in Onion, Garlic, Chillies and Seed Spices production, marketing and utilization, November, 25-27, Rajguru Nagar, Pune.
Sankar, V., D.Veeraragavathatham and M. Kannan, 2009. Effect of organic farming practices on post harvest storage life and organoleptic quality of yellow onion (Allium cepa L.). Indian Journal Agricultural Science, 79 (8): 608-614.
Sebsebe Zewdie, Kebede Woldetsadik and Tilahun Seyoum Workneh, 2010. Effects of nitrogen levels, harvesting time and curing on quality of shallot bulb. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 5(24):3342-3353.
Sørensen, J.N. and Grevsen, K., 2001. Sprouting in bulb onions (Allium cepa L.) as influenced by nitrogen and water stress. Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology 76: 501-506.
Suresh, C.T., 1997, Storage studies in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) Cv. Megha fruits. M.Sc. (Agri.) Thesis, presented to the school of graduate studies of Univ. of Agric. Sci., Dharwad.
Tekalign, Tsegaw, Abdissa Yohannes and L. M. Pant, 2012. Growth, bulb yield and quality of onion (Allium cepa L.) as influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization on vertisol. II: Bulb quality and storability. African Journal of Agricultural Research,7(45):5980-5985
Tesfaye K. and S. Walker, 2004. Matching of Crop and Environment for optimal water use the case of Ethiopia. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth. 29: 1061-1067.
Waskar, D.P, R.M. Khedlar, V.K.Garande, 1999. Effect of postharvest treatment on shelf life and quality of pomegranate in evaporative cooling chamber and ambient conditions. Journal of Food Science Technology. 2(36):114-117.
Yim, Ko, Kwon Yw, Bayer De., 1997. Growth responses and allocation of assimilates of rice seedlings by paclobutrazol and gibberellin treatment. Journal of Plant Growth Regulators 16:35-41.
Yoo KS, E.J., Lee, B.S., Patil, 2012. Changes in flavor precursors, Pungency, and sugar content in short-day onion bulbs during 5 month storage at various temperatures or in controlled atmosphere. Journal of Food Science. 77(2):216-21
