Suggested fertilization programs for onion
The holistic approach of Haifa for plant nutrition offers the growers diverse options for enhancing the plant performance and fertilizer use efficiency.
In Haifa's plant nutrition approach, the fertilization program takes in consideration alternative fertilizer formulas and alternative application methods (fertigation only, fertigation + foliar, fertigation + controlled release fertilizer or controlled release fertilizer only) for each growth stage and for different environmental conditions to match the plant's nutrition special needs.
These fertilization programs take into consideration:
- The plant uptake curve for each elements (macro, secondary and micronutrients) for each plant growth stage.
- The best application method for each plant growth stage and for every environmental and climate conditions (the methods can be fertigation only, fertigation + foliar, fertigation + controlled release fertilizer, controlled release fertilizer only)
- Alternative fertilizer formulas or application methods for different conditions that may occur during the growth cycle such as unpredictable climate conditions (drought or extreme temperature) and plant diseases that will damage roots absorption or the leaf's activity.
Special foliar fertilizers with prolonged and better action can be added to the fertilization programs to improve the root uptake and boost plant performance, as part of the overall nutritional program.
The main programs for onion are:
- Base and side dressing - Simple and basic program where fertigation cannot be use.
- Base application with controlled release fertilizer (Multicote) + side dressing - for better nutrient use efficiency, saving application costs and less soil compaction.
- Fertigation using straight fertilizers + side dressing - for better nutrient use efficiency, saving application costs and soil compaction.
- Base dressing with Haifa Turbo-K and fertigation using Poly-Feed (NPK soluble fertilizer) - precise nutrient formula application, better nutrient use efficiency, saving application costs and less soil compaction.
- Base dressing with controlled release fertilizer (Multicote) and fertigation for precise nutrient application rate with precise nutrient formula (Poly-Feed).
- Complementary foliar nutrition - To enhance plant performance during periods of special needs (nutrients disorders or abiotic stress)
Basic assumptions for the following fertilization programs:
Growing medium: Open field.
Soil type: Light to medium.
Expected yield: 65 MT/Ha (85% moisture).
Kilograms of macro nutrients removed by 1 ton marketable product
|
N |
P2O5 |
K2O |
CaO |
MgO |
S |
|
3.0-4.0 |
1.3-1.8 |
2.5-5 |
1.0 |
0.5 |
1.8-2.8 |
Examples of 5 detailed Fertilization programs for onion:
Option 1. Base and side dressing - Simple and basic program where fertigation cannot be use.
|
Stage description |
Pre-plant |
Establishment |
Vegetative growth |
Bulb initiation |
Bulb development |
Maturation |
|
duration |
|
30 days |
30 days |
30 days |
30 days |
30 days |
|
Fertilizers (kg/ha) |
||||||
|
Haifa Turbo-K™ 15-15-15 |
400 |
300 |
|
|
|
|
|
Haifa MAP™ 11-52-0 |
235 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Haifa K-Mag 0-0-22+18MgO +22 SO3 |
250 |
|
|
|
250 |
|
|
Dolomite 26% |
254 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Urea 46-0-0 |
|
|
|
|
226 |
|
|
Total nutrients (kg/ha) |
||||||
|
N |
862 |
45 |
|
|
104 |
|
|
P2O5 |
122 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
K2O |
60 |
45 |
|
|
55 |
|
|
MgO |
30 |
|
|
|
30 |
|
|
CaO |
66 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total nutrients (kg/ha)
|
N |
P2O5 |
K2O |
MgO |
CaO |
|
235 |
122 |
215 |
60 |
66 |
* In soil with high phosphorus levels use Haifa Turbo-K™ 18-09-18
Option 2. Base application with controlled release fertilizer (Multicote) + side dressing - for better nutrient use efficiency, saving application costs and less soil compaction.
Due to the high nutrients use efficiency with Multicote™, application rates can be reduced to about 70% of the N and K2O compared to conventional fertilization.
|
|
Application rate - % of common practice |
% coated nutrients |
||||
|
|
N |
P2O5 |
K2O |
N |
P2O5 |
K2O |
|
Light soil |
60-70 |
100 |
70 |
70 |
- |
30-50 |
|
Heavy soil |
70-90 |
100 |
80 |
50 |
- |
30-50 |
|
Stage description |
Pre-plant |
Establishment |
Vegetative growth |
Bulb initiation |
Bulb development |
Maturation |
|||||
|
duration |
|
30 days |
30 days |
30 days |
30 days |
30 days |
|||||
|
Fertilizers (kg/ha) |
|||||||||||
|
Multicote™ Agri 15-15-15 |
1000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Dolomite 26% |
250 |
|
|
250 |
|
|
|||||
|
Multi-K™ 13-0-46 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
|||||
|
Total nutrients (kg/ha) |
|||||||||||
|
N |
150 |
|
|
13 |
|
|
|||||
|
P2O5 |
150 |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
K2O |
150 |
|
|
45 |
|
|
|||||
|
MgO |
25 |
|
|
25 |
|
|
|||||
|
CaO |
65 |
|
|
65 |
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||||||
|
Total nutrients (kg/ha) |
N |
P2O5 |
K2O |
MgO |
CaO |
|
|||||
|
163 |
150 |
195 |
50 |
130 |
|
||||||
Option 3. Fertigation using straight fertilizers + side dressing - for better nutrient use efficiency, saving application costs and less soil compaction.
|
Stage description |
Pre-plant |
Establishment |
Vegetative growth |
Bulb initiation |
Bulb development |
Maturation |
|
duration |
|
30 days |
30 days |
30 days |
30 days |
30 days |
|
Fertilizers (kg/ha) |
||||||
|
Multi-K™ 13-0-46 |
|
100 |
140 |
140 |
170 |
|
|
Haifa MAP™ 11-52-0 |
|
75 |
50 |
50 |
50 |
|
|
Magnisal™ 11-0-0+16MgO |
|
34 |
68 |
68 |
90 |
|
|
Haifa Cal™ 11-0-0+26CaO |
|
50 |
50 |
75 |
75 |
|
|
Ammonium Nitrate 34-0-0 |
|
25 |
25 |
50 |
50 |
|
|
Total nutrients (kg/ha) |
||||||
|
N |
|
42 |
48 |
48 |
66 |
|
|
P2O5 |
|
46 |
31 |
31 |
31 |
|
|
K2O |
|
46 |
64 |
64 |
78 |
|
|
MgO |
|
5 |
11 |
11 |
14 |
|
|
CaO |
|
13 |
13 |
13 |
20 |
|
Total nutrients (kg/ha)
|
N |
P2O5 |
K2O |
MgO |
CaO |
|
204 |
139 |
252 |
41 |
59 |
Option 4. Fertigation using Poly-Feed (NPK soluble fertilizer) - precise nutrient formula application, better nutrient use efficiency, saving application costs and less soil compaction.
|
Stage description |
Pre-plant |
Establishment |
Vegetative growth |
Bulb initiation |
Bulb development |
Maturation |
|
duration |
|
30 days |
30 days |
30 days |
30 days |
30 days |
|
Fertilizers (kg/ha) |
||||||
|
Poly-Feed™ 12-43-12 |
|
45 |
|
|
|
|
|
Poly-Feed™ 19-19-19 |
|
|
240 |
|
|
|
|
Poly-Feed™ 14-7-21 |
|
|
|
300 |
|
|
|
Poly-Feed™ 12-5-40 |
|
|
|
|
675 |
|
|
Magnisal™ 11-0-0+16MgO |
|
|
60 |
60 |
110 |
|
|
Haifa Cal™ 11-0-0+26CaO |
|
|
60 |
60 |
110 |
|
|
Total nutrients (kg/ha) |
||||||
|
N |
|
5 |
61 |
58 |
110 |
|
|
P2O5 |
|
19 |
46 |
21 |
34 |
|
|
K2O |
|
5 |
46 |
63 |
270 |
|
|
MgO |
|
|
10 |
10 |
18 |
|
|
CaO |
|
|
16 |
16 |
29 |
|
Total nutrients (kg/ha)
|
N |
P2O5 |
K2O |
MgO |
CaO |
|
234 |
120 |
384 |
38 |
61 |
Option 5. Base dressing with controlled release fertilizer (Multicote) and fertigation for precise nutrient application rate with precise nutrient formula (Poly-Feed).
Due to the high fertilizing efficiency of the Multicote™, the application rate will be only ~70% of the N and K2O common application practice:
|
Stage description |
Pre-plant |
Establishment |
Vegetative growth |
Bulb initiation |
Bulb development |
Maturation |
|
duration |
|
30 days |
30 days |
30 days |
30 days |
30 days |
|
Fertilizers (kg/ha) |
||||||
|
Multicote™ Agri 15-15-15 |
300 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poly-Feed™ 19-19-19 |
|
100 |
|
|
|
|
|
Poly-Feed™ 14-7-21 |
|
|
100 |
150 |
|
|
|
Poly-Feed™ 12-5-40 |
|
|
|
|
600 |
|
|
Magnisal™ 11-0-0+16MgO |
|
60 |
60 |
60 |
90 |
|
|
Haifa Cal™ 11-0-0+26CaO |
|
60 |
60 |
60 |
90 |
|
|
Total nutrients (kg/ha) |
||||||
|
N |
45 |
35 |
30 |
37 |
95 |
|
|
P2O5 |
45 |
19 |
7 |
11 |
30 |
|
|
K2O |
45 |
19 |
21 |
32 |
240 |
|
|
MgO |
|
10 |
10 |
10 |
14 |
|
|
CaO |
|
16 |
10 |
16 |
24 |
|
Total nutrients (kg/ha)
|
N |
P2O5 |
K2O |
MgO |
CaO |
|
242 |
112 |
357 |
44 |
72 |
Complementary foliar nutrition - To enhance plant performance during periods of special needs (nutrients disorders or abiotic stress)
Foliar application of nutrients provides complementary fertilization with high added value, corrective nutrition when deficiencies are noticed and growth boosting during critical stages of the crop development. This foliar nutrition program can be added to all fertilization programs.
|
Stage description |
Pre-plant |
Establishment |
Vegetative growth |
Bulb initiation |
Bulb development |
Maturation |
|
duration |
|
30 days |
30 days |
30 days |
30 days |
30 days |
|
Fertilizers (kg/ha) |
||||||
|
Poly-Feed™ 20-20-20 |
|
1 kg/ha, conc. 0.5% |
1.5 kg/ha, conc. 0.5% |
|
|
|
|
Magnisal™ 11-0-0+16MgO |
|
|
|
2 kg/ha, conc. 1% |
2 kg/ha, conc. 1% |
|
|
Haifa Bonus™ |
|
|
|
5 kg/ha, conc. 2% |
5 kg/ha, conc. 2% |
|
Proven Results
- Multicote™ Agri trial in Israel , 2016
|
|
|
Rate (kg/ha) |
N rate (kg/ha) |
% N of common practice |
|
Control - No fertilization |
|
|
|
|
|
Common practice |
|
|
|
|
|
Multicote™ Agri Hi |
|
|
|
|
|
Multicote™ Agri Med |
|
|
|
|
|
Multicote™ Agri Lo |
|
|
|
|
The common practice fertilization was applied by base dressing + 10 top dressings
Multicote™ Agri treatments were applied by single application
|
|
Fertilizer cost $/ha |
Application cost |
Total cost |
|
Common practice |
|
|
|
|
Multicote™ Agri Hi |
|
|
|
|
Multicote™ Agri Med |
|
|
|
|
Multicote™ Agri Lo |
|
|
|
- All Multicote Agri treatments resulted in higher yields compared to the farmers practice.
- The Multicote™Agri 50% N treatment was the most profitable treatment.
- Multicote™ Agri trial in Mexico, 2007-2008
Location: INIFAD research center
Plot wat irrigated by flooding onion in
|
Treatment no. |
Rate (kg/ha) |
% CRF |
Yield (ton/ha) |
||||||
|
N |
K2O |
N |
K2O |
Total |
Jumbo |
Large |
Medium |
Small |
|
|
T1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
28.15d |
8.64 |
56.66 |
29.03 |
5.72 |
|
T2 |
100 |
100 |
50 |
30 |
52.69c |
26.31 |
49.18 |
22.99 |
1.55 |
|
T3 |
100 |
100 |
30 |
30 |
49.96c |
19.96 |
52.93 |
25.44 |
1.66 |
|
T4 |
140 |
140 |
50 |
30 |
57.71ab |
24.91 |
49.70 |
23.70 |
1.68 |
|
T5 |
140 |
140 |
30 |
30 |
61.78a |
17.42 |
61.48 |
20.41 |
0.68 |
|
T6 (conventional) |
200 |
200 |
0 |
0 |
53.33bc |
20.44 |
52.61 |
24.47 |
2.48 |
|
DSH (0.05) |
|
|
|
|
4.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
CV (%) |
|
|
|
|
4.0 |
|
|
|
|
Economic analysis ($/ha)
|
Treatment no. |
Total income |
Variable costs |
Total costs |
Net income |
Benefit: cost ratio |
|
T1 |
33503 |
0 |
30000 |
3503 |
0.12 |
|
T2 |
67069 |
4325 |
34325 |
32744 |
0.95 |
|
T3 |
62353 |
3824 |
33824 |
28711 |
0.85 |
|
T4 |
73111 |
5787 |
35784 |
37324 |
1.04 |
|
T5 |
78389 |
5085 |
35085 |
43304 |
1.23 |
|
T6 (conventional) |
66674 |
3940 |
33940 |
32734 |
0.96 |
Conclusions: This trial in flooded onion field proved the following:
The CRF treatment gave more yield, more dry matter and better absorption of N.P.K .
Net income obtained with CRF treatments was higher than conventional and control treatments.
3. Multicote™ Agri trials in commercial farms, Mexico
- Las Adelinas farm
Location: Abasolo, Guanajuato state, Mexico.
Variety: Cirrus, area : 4.4 ha
Sowing: 17-18/8/2009, Harvest : 15/12/2009
Farmer's practice
|
Fertilizer |
Rate (kg/ha) |
Total nutrients applied (kg/ha) |
||||
|
N |
P2O5 |
K2O |
CaO |
MgO |
||
|
Base 13-18-20 |
500 |
67 |
92 |
100 |
|
|
|
Fertigation |
|
233 |
39 |
256 |
72 |
36 |
|
Total |
|
300 |
131 |
356 |
72 |
36 |
Haifa treatment
|
Fertilizer |
Rate (kg/ha) |
Total nutrients applied (kg/ha) |
||||
|
N |
P2O5 |
K2O |
CaO |
MgO |
||
|
Base: Multicote™ Agri (4) 21-17-17 |
553 |
117 |
92 |
94 |
|
|
|
Fertigation |
|
94 |
40 |
153 |
72 |
36 |
|
Total |
|
211 |
132 |
248 |
72 |
36 |
Yield results (MT/ha)
|
Treatment |
Total yield |
Bulb size |
||||
|
rejected |
small |
medium |
large |
XL |
||
|
Farmer's practice |
56.98 |
2.34 |
10.51 |
31.54 |
11.45 |
1.14 |
|
Multicote™ Agri |
63.30 |
2.53 |
5.06 |
27.85 |
24.05 |
3.80 |
- El Palomar farm
Location: Abasolo, Guanajuato, Mexico
Variety: Carta Blanca, area: 8 ha.
Sowing: August 2010, Harvest: January 2011.
Farmer's practice
|
Fertilizer |
Rate (kg/ha) |
Total nutrients applied (kg/ha) |
||||
|
N |
P2O5 |
K2O |
CaO |
MgO |
||
|
Base 13-18-20 |
500 |
67 |
92 |
100 |
|
|
|
Fertigation |
|
233 |
28 |
250 |
60 |
15 |
|
Total |
|
300 |
120 |
350 |
60 |
15 |
Haifa treatment
|
Fertilizer |
Rate (kg/ha) |
Total nutrients applied (kg/ha) |
||||
|
N |
P2O5 |
K2O |
CaO |
MgO |
||
|
Base: Multicote™ Agri (4) 21-17-17 |
553 |
117 |
92 |
94 |
|
|
|
Fertigation |
|
94 |
40 |
153 |
72 |
36 |
|
Total |
|
211 |
132 |
248 |
72 |
36 |
Yield results (MT/ha)
|
Treatment |
Total yield |
Bulb size |
||||
|
rejected |
small |
medium |
large |
XL |
||
|
Farmer's practice |
78.11 |
11.26 |
2.73 |
17.40 |
33.09 |
13.64 |
|
Multicote™ Agri |
87.61 |
8.60 |
4.30 |
23.86 |
39.50 |
11.34 |
- Spring Onion trial in Australia
Grower's practice
|
Fertilizer |
No of applications |
Kg/ha |
Cost of application |
|||
|
Total |
N |
P2O5 |
K2O |
|||
|
Granular 12-11.4-18 |
1 base |
800 |
96 |
91.2 |
144 |
11.7 |
|
Granular 20-0-19 |
2 top |
800 |
160 |
0 |
152 |
23.4 |
|
SOP |
1 top |
800 |
0 |
0 |
416 |
|
|
Total |
4 |
2400 |
256 |
91.2 |
712 |
|
Haifa treatment
|
Fertilizer |
No of applications |
Kg/ha |
|||
|
Total |
N |
P2O5 |
K2O |
||
|
Multicote™ Agri (4) 13.5-4.5-36.5 |
1 base |
1140 |
153.9 |
51.3 |
416.1 |
Yields and profitability (after 14 weeks)
|
|
Grower's practice |
Multicote™ Agri |
Difference |
|
Yield(covers/plot) |
140 |
162 |
22 |
|
Covers /ha |
17,724 |
20,509 |
2,785 |
|
Profitability US$/ plot |
595.1 |
688.7 |
93.6 |
|
US$/ha |
75,345 |
87,195 |
11,850 |
Cover = 10 bunches
Plots = 79 X1 m, 4 rows per plot
126.6 plots /ha. Cover estimated price: 4.251 us$
Conclusions: Multicote™ Agri treatment resulted in
- Higher uniformity - plants with the same color
- Greater weight per bunch, higher total returns
- Labor saving
- Less harm caused by machinery
Foliar nutrition trial, Mexico
Location: Pénjamo, Guanajuato
Variety: Cal-214, area : 1.5 ha.
Sowing: 14/10/2009.
|
# |
Treatment |
Spray concentration |
No. of applications |
Time interval between applications |
|
1 |
Haifa Bonus™ Lo |
2% |
2 |
15 days |
|
2 |
Haifa Bonus™ Med |
4% |
2 |
15 days |
|
3 |
Haifa Bonus™ Hi |
6% |
1 |
|
|
4 |
Control |
0 |
0 |
|
|
5 |
Conventional |
|
|
|
Foliar nutrition trial, Peru
Foliar Application of Poly-Feed™ and Haifa Bonus™ npK in red Onion Arequipeña type ,
Santa Rita zone - Arequipa – Fundo América - 2010:
|
Size |
Poly-Feed™ 1% |
Poly-Feed™ 2% |
Haifa Bonus™ 1% |
Haifa Bonus™ 2% |
Control |
|
Paneton |
8.0 |
5.9 |
11.0 |
6.2 |
5.01 |
|
Primera |
23.8 |
18.25 |
27.0 |
22.5 |
18.24 |
|
Segunda |
3.0 |
3.85 |
3.65 |
2.98 |
4.98 |
|
Floreada |
22.0 |
19.95 |
15.1 |
15.7 |
13.6 |
|
Total |
56.8 |
47.95 |
56.75 |
47.38 |
41.83 |
|
Yield kg/ha |
63,108 |
53,275 |
63,053 |
52,637 |
46,479 |
Poly-Feed™ 12-6-40+ME
Haifa Bonus™ 13-2-44
Bibliography
- Boyhan and Kelly. Onion production guide. The University of Georgia, 2008.
- Conn et al. "Onion Disease Guide." Seminis, 2012.
- FAO. Crop Water Information: Onion. 2015. https://www.fao.org/nr/water/cropinfo_onions.html.
- FAOSTAT. FAOSTAT. n.d. https://faostat3.fao.org/home/E (accessed 2016).
- Onions Australia. Onions Australia. 2016. https://www.onionsaustralia.org.au/index.htm (accessed 2016).
- Oregon state university. "Nutrient Management for Onions in the Pacific Northwest." 2001.
- Phill Sinclair. "The botany of onions." Australian Onion Grower, Vol. 5, 1988.
- Shannon and Grieve. 1999. Tolerance of vegetable crops to salinity, U.S. Salinity Laboratory Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service
- Thangasamy, 2016, 4R Nutrient Management for Onion in India
- UC Davis. ONION Leaf Analysis Guide for Diagnosing Crop Nutrient Status. https://vric.ucdavis.edu/veg_info/onion_leaf_analysis.htm (accessed 2016).
- University of Georgia. "Onion production guide." 2007