Preharvest production practices, and postharvest treatment and handling methods for best quality onion bulbs: review
Seid Hussen Muhie
Abstract
Onion (Allium cepa L.), a member of the family Amaryllidaceae, is the second most widely cultivated and oldest crop used as vegetable, spice and medicinal values. It is produced in many countries where China, India and Egypt being the top three producers. It is used as cousins and value addition for different dishes across the world. Onion is also produced and marketed under medium and small scale in urban and peri-urban areas of developing countries and is used as an income generating crop that improves the livelihoods along the value chain. However, because of its perishable nature, it is subjected to significant postharvest losses. Therefore, it is worth to know some preharvest production practices, and postharvest treatment and handling methods so as to produce best quality onion bulbs and maintain the quality for a relatively longer storage periods. Nutrient management, irrigation frequency and water requirement, use of growth regulators, harvest maturity and curing methods are vital factors to produce best quality onion bulbs and maintain the quality with minimum postharvest losses. The application of these practices will contribute in the production of quality bulbs and enhance their storability