Alliums
Go to: Leeks | Onions | Salad Onions
Lime and Nutrients for Leeks
| Nutrient | Application Advice |
|---|---|
| Lime | Where necessary, apply lime to give an optimum pH of 6.5-6.8. |
| N | Depending on soil fertility 70- 100kg/ha N should be applied as base dressing. Up to 100 kg/ha N may be applied as top dressing. |
| P and K | Apply P and K rates as in the table below. |
| FYM | If livestock manure is available, annual applications are beneficial to both soil and crop but reduce the N, P and K application by 1.4 kg/ha, 1.2 kg/ha and 6 kg/ha respectively for each tonne/ha of well rotted and well stored FYM used (SI 31 of 2014). |
| Table: N,P,K recommendations for Leek crops (kg/ha) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Soil N Index | N | P | K |
| 1 | 100 | 60 | 250 |
| 2 | 90 | 45 | 220 |
| 3 | 80 | 35 | 200 |
| 4 | 70 | 20 | 100 |
| Topdress | 100 | - | - |
Onion Field
| Nutrient | Application Advice |
|---|---|
| Lime | Where necessary, apply lime to give an optimum pH of 6.5 - 6.8. |
| N |
Spring Sown Depending on soil fertility, apply 40 – 70 kg/ha N as a base dressing. Top dressings can be applied up to 70 kg/ha N but not later than mid-June. Autumn Sown Depending on soil fertility, apply 0 – 70 kg/ha N may be applied as a base dressing. Apply a top-dressing up to 70 kg/ha N in the month of February (or mid-late January if weather and SI 31 of 2014 permit). |
| P and K | Apply P and K rates as in the table below. The preferred form of K for onions is sulphate. |
| Zn |
On peat soils, onions are sensitive to Zn deficiency. Apply 22.5 - 34 kg/ha of zinc sulphate (35% Zn). Lower rates can be used if it is banded. Zinc spray can also be used, applying 4.5 kg/ha zinc sulphate in 1,000 l water. |
| Mo |
Onions are sensitive to Mo deficiency. Low pH encourages Mo deficiency so lime should be applied to raise the pH. Spraying the crops with 0.6 kg/ha sodium molybdate (39% Mo) may be necessary. |
| Table: N,P,K recommendations for Onion crops (kg/ha) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Soil Index | N | P | K |
| 1 | 70 | 60 | 250 |
| 2 | 60 | 45 | 220 |
| 3 | 50 | 35 | 200 |
| 4 | 40 | 20 | 100 |
| Topdress | 70 | - | - |
Lime and Nutrients for Salad Onions
| Nutrient | Application Advice |
|---|---|
| Lime | Where necessary, apply lime to give an optimum pH of 6.5 - 6.8. |
| N | Apply 60 – 90 kg/ha N in the base dressing and up to 60 kg/ha as a topdressing. If over-wintering use 30 kg/ha in the base dressing and up to 120 kg/ha N as a top dressing. |
| P and K | Apply P and K rates as in the table below. The preferred form of K for salad onions is sulphate. |
| Table: N,P,K recommendations for Salad Onion crops (kg/ha) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Soil Index | N | P | K |
| 1 | 90 | 60 | 315 |
| 2 | 80 | 45 | 215 |
| 3 | 70 | 35 | 205 |
| 4 | 60 | 20 | 105 |
| Topdress | 60 | ||