Crop Guide: Onion Fertilization Program

Fertilization programs for onions

 

The holistic approach of Haifa for plant nutrition offers the growers diverse options for enhancing the plant performance and fertilizer use efficiency. According to 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 element (macro, secondary and micronutrients) and each plant growth stage.

• The best application method for each plant growth stage and for every environmental and climate condition (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.

 

 

Main fertilization programs for onions are:

 

1. Base and side dressing   A simple and basic program where fertigation cannot be use.

2. Base application with Multicote™ controlled release fertilizer + side dressing For better nutrient use efficiency, saving application costs and less soil compaction.

3. Nutrigation™ using straight fertilizers + side dressing For better nutrient use efficiency, saving application costs and soil compaction.

4. Base dressing with Haifa Turbo-K™ and fertigation using Poly-Feed™ (NPK soluble fertilizer)  A precise nutrient formula application, better nutrient use efficiency, saving application costs and less soil compaction.

5. Base dressing with Multicote™ controlled release fertilizer and fertigation for precise nutrient application rate with precise nutrient formula (Poly-Feed™).

6. 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
A 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%

 

Related Articles:

NPK Fertilizers - Water Soluble Fertilizers

Plant Fertilizer & Plant Nutrition

Foliar Feeding & Foliar Fertilizer

Potassium Nitrate Fertilizers