Excessive nitrogen can result in storage rots, resulting in yield losses during storage. It can also weaken plant tissues increasing susceptibility to cold damage. A balanced crop nutrition can help to reduce storage rots by promoting health plants.
Reducing Onion Storage Rots
Onions should be mature and dry when harvested. Onion and garlic bulbs need to be carefully handled to minimize bruising and cuts that can allow disease to enter. Onions need a period of curing or drying in order to seal the neck, prevent invasion of diseases and rots and to create a bright crack-free skin. In temperate regions, curing is usually carried out in store, but elsewhere, onions are lifted and left to dry in the field.
Crop Nutrition and Onion Storage Rots
Nitrogen
Later applications of nitrogen that are mainly responsible for an increase in incidence of thick necks and rots in store as well as delaying maturity.
Calcium and Magnesium
Calcium helps to improve tolerance to diseases. In association with magnesium, onion crops with high levels of calcium in the bulbs, show less storage rots.
Calcium nitrate has been proven to be the most effective formulation in ensuring minimal onion rots in store. It is important that Ca and K are in balance.
Boron
Boron helps to improve calcium update and bulb quality. Research shows that boron supply can reduce onion and garlic rotting in during storage. This effect is associated with the micronutrient’s role in improving calcium accumulation in the bulb.
Recommended Yara Fertilizers for Onions
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YaraMila COMPLEX
12-4.8-14.9 + 8% S - Prilled NPK fertilizer which also contains magnesium and sulphur as well as micronutrients ideal for use on a wide range of arable and horticultural crops.
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YaraLiva TROPICOTE
15.5% N + 19% Ca - Granular calcium nitrate fertilizer for field application to a wide range of crops.
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MAINCROP S
14-5.7-17.4 + 2.2% S - A quality size matched NPK plus S size matched blended fertilizer, ideal for use for potato production due to the ratio in the of N P and K whilst including a useful amount of sulphur.
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STARTER SOLUTION PLUS
A liquid fertilizer for placement which aids rapid crop establishment, promotes efficient utilization of phosphate and improves phosphate availability.
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YaraVita BORTRAC 150
A liquid micronutrient fertilizer containing 150 g/l boron for foliar application to provide additional boron or to treat boron deficiencies in a wide range of crops.
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YaraVita BRASSITREL PRO
A flowable liquid suspension fertilizer with a combination of micronutrients including manganese, magnesium, boron and molybdenum for foliar application to oilseed rape, brassicas and legumes.