Onion Farming in India: Complete Guide to Planting, Fertilizer and Harvesting

Onion farming in India is one of the most important vegetable businesses in the country. Onion is grown in almost every state, sold all year round and stored for months. But small mistakes are costly: wrong season, wrong variety, too much nitrogen, uncontrolled thrips or poor curing can wipe out much of the profit. This guide covers the full onion crop cycle, from season and variety to nursery, fertilizer, irrigation, plant protection, harvesting and storage, using recommendations from ICAR-Directorate of Onion and Garlic Research (ICAR-DOGR), the National Horticulture Board (NHB) and the NIPHM integrated pest management package.

How big is onion farming in India?

Onion (Allium cepa) is a bulb crop used fresh, cooked, dehydrated and exported. India is the second largest onion growing country in the world.

According to the Final Estimates of horticulture crops for 2024-25 released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on 17 March 2026 (PIB release):

Dividing these two figures gives an average national productivity of roughly 15.6 tonnes per hectare in 2024-25. Good growers using the right variety and management regularly get much more than this, which shows how big the yield gap is.

Major onion states include Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. According to an ICAR note on onion cold storage, the rabi crop makes up about 60% of onion production and reaches markets from March to June, and it has to carry the market until the kharif crop arrives in October-November. That is why storage matters so much in onion.

What climate and soil does onion need?

Climate

Onion is a cool-season crop that grows under a wide range of conditions, but it does best in mild weather without extreme cold, heat or heavy rain. Short-day onion is grown in the plains (10-12 hours day length) and long-day onion in the hills (13-14 hours). As per the ICAR-DOGR-based package of practices on Vikaspedia:

·        Optimum temperature: 13-24 C for leaf (vegetative) growth and 16-25 C for bulb development.

·        Relative humidity: about 70% for good growth.

·        Rainfall: 650-750 mm, well distributed, suits a rain-fed crop.

Cooler weather and shorter days favour leaf growth; warmer weather and longer days push the plant into bulbing.

Soil

Onion can grow in sandy loam, clay loam, silt loam and heavy soils, but the best soil is deep, friable loam or alluvial soil with good drainage and plenty of organic matter.

·        Ideal pH: 6.0-7.5. Onion struggles below pH 6.0 and is sensitive to highly acidic, alkaline and saline soils.

·        Salinity: yield starts falling when soil ECe goes above about 4.0 dS/m.

·        Waterlogging: onion hates standing water. In kharif, waterlogging increases anthracnose (twister) disease.

·        Heavy soils: bulbs may be misshapen unless organic manure is added.

A soil test before the season tells you whether you need extra sulphur or zinc and saves money on fertilizer you do not need. If you already have a card, our guide on how to read a soil health card explains each parameter.

Which are the onion seasons in India?

Onion is grown in three main seasons in India. Kharif onion is planted during the monsoon and harvested in October-December. Late kharif onion is planted after the rains and harvested in January-March. Rabi onion is planted in winter and harvested in March-June; it is the main crop and the best for storage.

The calendar varies by region (ICAR-DOGR-based package of practices):

Tip: Kharif onion fetches good prices because it reaches the market when stored rabi stock is running out, but it carries higher disease risk and does not store well. Rabi onion gives higher yield and better keeping quality.

Which onion varieties are best in India?

Choosing a variety suited to your season is the single cheapest way to raise yield. ICAR-DOGR (Rajgurunagar, Pune), NHRDF (Nashik), IARI, IIHR and state agricultural universities have released many onion varieties. The figures below are from NHB's recommended onion varieties page and an ICAR note on DOGR varieties. Yields are average or potential figures under good management; your own field may differ.

Red onion varieties by season

White and small onion varieties

White onion for processing includes Bhima Shweta (rabi, about 35.9 t/ha, thrips tolerant), Bhima Shubhra, Pusa White Round and Agrifound White. Small and multiplier onion types for South India include Agrifound Rose, Arka Bindu, Co-1, Co-2 and MDU-1.

How to choose: For kharif, pick a short-duration variety that bulbs under monsoon conditions (Bhima Super, Bhima Dark Red, Agrifound Dark Red). For rabi, pick a variety with good storage life (Bhima Kiran, Bhima Shakti, Agrifound Light Red) if you plan to hold the crop. Buy certified seed from a trusted source and confirm with your local KVK which variety is notified for your zone.

How to raise an onion nursery (seed rate and seed treatment)

Most onion in India is transplanted from a nursery. A good nursery means uniform, healthy seedlings and fewer gaps in the field. For a week-by-week plan for the main season, see our rabi onion nursery to transplant schedule.

1.  Area: About 0.05 hectare (500 sq m) of nursery is enough for one hectare of field. For one acre, roughly 200 sq m is enough.

2.  Seed rate: 5-7 kg seed is needed to raise seedlings for one hectare (about 2-3 kg per acre). Onion seed loses viability quickly, so always use fresh seed of the current season.

3.  Bed preparation: Plough 5-6 times, remove stones and crop debris, and mix about half a tonne of well-decomposed FYM into 0.05 ha. Make raised beds 10-15 cm high and 1.0-1.2 m wide with at least 30 cm between beds. Raised beds prevent seed wash-off and drain extra water.

4.  Seed treatment: Treat seed with thiram at 2 g per kg seed to protect against damping off. Trichoderma viride at 1,250 g per hectare is also recommended for healthy seedlings.

5.  Sowing: Sow in lines 50-75 mm apart, cover lightly with fine compost or FYM and water gently. Drip or micro-sprinkler watering saves water in the nursery.

6.  Weed control: Pendimethalin at 0.2% is recommended as a pre-emergence herbicide in the nursery.

7.  Seedling age: Seedlings are ready in 35-40 days after sowing for kharif, and 45-50 days for late kharif and rabi. Avoid both under-aged and over-aged seedlings.

Damping off is the biggest nursery problem, especially in kharif. The NIPHM IPM package notes that it can cause 60-75% damage under high moisture and humidity. Avoid over-watering, use raised beds and do not sow too densely.

How to prepare the field and transplant onion

1. Land preparation

Plough and harrow the field to a fine tilth. Incorporate organic manure equal to about 75 kg N per hectare at the last ploughing: approximately 15 t/ha FYM (about 6 t/acre), or 7.5 t/ha poultry manure or vermicompost.

·        Rabi: Flat beds of 1.5-2.0 m width and 4-6 m length are common.

·        Kharif: Avoid flat beds. Use broad bed furrows (BBF) of 15 cm height and 120 cm top width with 45 cm furrows. BBF drains extra rain water, improves aeration and reduces anthracnose. It also suits drip and sprinkler irrigation.

2. Transplanting and spacing

1.  Cut one-third of the seedling top at transplanting for better establishment.

2.  Dip seedling roots in carbendazim solution (0.1%) for two hours before planting to reduce fungal infection during establishment.

3.  Plant at 15 cm between rows and 10 cm between plants. This is the optimum spacing recommended by ICAR-DOGR.

4.  Give a light irrigation at transplanting and again about three days later.

At 15 x 10 cm, the field holds about 66 plants per square metre of planted bed area. Paths and furrows reduce the actual plant count per acre, so do not compare plant population figures without checking the bed layout.

Onion fertilizer schedule: how much NPK and sulphur?

Onion needs balanced nutrition, and the dose changes with season because yield potential changes. The schedule below is the ICAR-DOGR recommendation (per hectare), with approximate per-acre conversions (1 ha = 2.47 acres).

DAT = days after transplanting. Add organic manure equal to 75 kg N per hectare in all seasons.

Rule of thumb: Apply one-third of the nitrogen and the full phosphorus and potash at transplanting. Split the remaining nitrogen into two equal doses at 30 and 45 days after transplanting. Do not keep applying nitrogen late in the crop. Excess nitrogen, especially late urea, is linked to thick necks, sprouting in storage, splitting and higher thrips pressure.

Sulphur: the nutrient onion farmers often miss

Sulphur improves onion yield and pungency. ICAR-DOGR recommends sulphur as a basal dose at transplanting:

·        15 kg S per hectare (about 6 kg per acre) where soil sulphur is above 25 kg/ha.

·        30 kg S per hectare (about 12 kg per acre) where soil sulphur is below 25 kg/ha.

·        50 kg S per hectare for long-day onion.

Using ammonium sulphate, single super phosphate or bentonite sulphur as part of your basal dose can supply this.

Micronutrients: zinc, boron and others

Apply micronutrients based on a soil test. The NIPHM/DPPQS IPM package lists these correction sprays when deficiency symptoms appear:

Boron is important during bulb development. Katyayani's onion-specific Onion Pyaj Kand Vikas Combo for bulb growth pairs Boron 20% EDTA fertilizer (200 g per acre) with a growth regulator, sprayed around 80 days after transplanting as per the product page. Use boron only at the label dose; boron toxicity can happen if you overuse it.

To improve soil structure and root activity, especially in tired or low-organic-carbon soils, many farmers add a humic acid fertilizer as a soil application or through drip along with their basal dose. It supports, but does not replace, FYM and NPK. If you prefer a ready soil package at planting, the Onion Unnati Soil Kit combines bio NPK, Trichoderma, mycorrhiza (VAM), a granular insecticide for early thrips and a mixed micronutrient.

How to irrigate onion (and why drip pays)

Onion has shallow roots, so it needs frequent, light irrigation. Water stress followed by heavy irrigation causes split bulbs and bolting.

·        Irrigate at transplanting, three days later, and then every 7-10 days depending on soil moisture.

·        Number of irrigations (ICAR-DOGR): kharif 5-8, late kharif 10-12, rabi 12-15.

·        Critical stages: establishment, bulb initiation and bulb enlargement. Never let the field crack at bulbing.

·        Stop irrigation 10-15 days before harvest, when the crop matures and tops start falling. This reduces rotting in storage.

Drip and fertigation layout

Research summarised in the same package found that drip at 100% pan evaporation improved marketable bulb yield by 15-25%, with more A-grade bulbs, about 35-40% water saving and 25-30% labour saving compared with flood irrigation.

How to control weeds in onion

Onion grows slowly in the first weeks and its thin leaves cannot shade out weeds, so early weed control decides yield.

1.  Deep summer ploughing and a stale seedbed before transplanting reduce the weed seed bank.

2.  ICAR-DOGR recommends oxyfluorfen 23.5% EC (1.5-2.0 ml per litre) or pendimethalin 30% EC (3.5-4 ml per litre) before or at transplanting.

3.  Follow with one hand weeding at 40-60 days after transplanting.

4.  Keep the crop weed-free for the first 30-45 days.

Always use a herbicide registered for onion, at the label dose, with a flat-fan nozzle and moist soil.

How to manage onion pests: thrips and others

Onion thrips

Onion thrips are tiny insects that rasp the leaf surface and suck sap, leaving silvery-white streaks. Heavy attack dries leaf tips, reduces bulb size and opens wounds for purple blotch and other diseases. Thrips are worst in dry, warm weather. See the recommended solutions for thrips in onion on our Crop Finder.

The NIPHM AESA-based IPM package (crop stage-wise IPM for onion) recommends:

·        Cultural: use tolerant varieties (Bhima Shakti and Bhima Shweta are listed as thrips-tolerant by NHB), keep the field and bunds clean, avoid planting next to garlic or other host crops, and plant two rows of maize (or an inner row of wheat and outer row of maize) around the plot as a barrier crop. Sprinkler irrigation reduces thrips compared with drip or surface irrigation.

·        Biological: conserve predators such as minute pirate bugs, predatory thrips, lacewings, ladybird beetles and spiders.

·        Chemical: spray only when the population is high, with high volume and pressure aimed at the leaf base, and add a sticker-spreader so the spray stays on the waxy, upright leaves. Rotate insecticide groups to delay resistance.

Joker Fipronil 80% WG insecticide is labelled on its product page for onion thrips at 30 g per acre in 200 litres of water. For a ready onion pack that covers thrips and fungal diseases together, see the Pyaaz Kheti Sooraksha Kit for onion (Joker + IMD-70 + Dr. Zole).

Onion maggot, mites and caterpillars appear in some regions; crop rotation, sanitation and pheromone traps are the first line of defence there.

How to control onion diseases

Sources: NIPHM/DPPQS AESA-based IPM (onion diseases and symptoms).

Purple blotch and stemphylium blight

Purple blotch is the most common foliar disease of onion and often follows thrips damage. The NIPHM package lists difenoconazole 25% EC (40 ml in 200 litres of water per acre) for purple blotch, and mancozeb 75% WP (600-800 g per acre) for stemphylium leaf blight. Dr. Zole Azoxystrobin + Tebuconazole fungicide is listed on its product page for onion purple blotch at 300 ml per acre. Compare symptoms and recommended solutions on our Crop Finder pages for purple blotch in onion and stemphylium blight in onion.

Downy mildew and twister

Downy mildew is favoured by humid weather and is worse in late-planted, poorly drained, over-watered or over-fertilised crops. Twister (anthracnose) is mainly a kharif problem in waterlogged fields, so raised beds and drainage are your best defence. See the Crop Finder pages on downy mildew in onion and anthracnose (twister) in onion.

Viral diseases such as iris yellow spot and onion yellow dwarf have no cure, so manage the insect vectors, plant healthy seedlings and remove infected plants.

Safety first: Use only pesticides registered for onion, read the label for dose, waiting period (pre-harvest interval) and protective equipment, and never mix products without checking compatibility. When in doubt, ask your local agriculture officer or KVK. Avoid spraying in the last weeks before harvest unless the label allows it.

When and how to harvest onion

Onion is ready for dry bulb harvest in about five months from sowing (most varieties mature 95-130 days after transplanting). Green onion can be harvested in about three months.

·        Rabi crop: the best time to harvest is one week after about 50% of the tops have fallen over.

·        Kharif crop: tops often do not fall, so harvest when leaves turn slightly yellow and red colour develops on the bulb.

·        Timing matters: early harvest leads to sprouting in storage; late harvest causes secondary root growth in storage, and in kharif it causes doubles and bolting.

Harvesting steps

1.  Stop irrigation 10-15 days before harvest.

2.  Pull bulbs by hand in light soil, or loosen with a fork or hoe in heavier soil.

3.  Leave bulbs in windrows in the field for a few days with the leaves covering the bulbs to protect them from sunburn.

4.  After the leaves dry, cut the tops leaving 2-2.5 cm of neck above the bulb. Cutting too close leaves the neck open to rot.

5.  Dry further in shade. The NIPHM package suggests two days of field drying followed by 10-15 days of shade drying before storage.

6.  Grade the bulbs by size and remove damaged, doubled, bolted or diseased bulbs before storage.

How to store onion and reduce losses

Onion is semi-perishable. According to ICAR, 30-40% of onion is lost during storage, and losses go above 40% in years of natural calamities. The main causes are weight loss, sprouting and rotting.

Practical storage rules:

·        Store only well-cured, healthy bulbs of varieties with good keeping quality.

·        Ventilate from the bottom and sides; bag stacks should not exceed about 5 feet, with space all around.

·        Avoid bruising, and remove rotting or sprouting bulbs early.

·        Excess late nitrogen and late irrigation shorten storage life, so good storage starts in the field.

What yield can you expect from onion farming?

Onion yield in India depends heavily on season, variety, irrigation and plant protection.

·        ICAR-DOGR yield potential: kharif 25-30 t/ha, late kharif and rabi 40-50 t/ha, long-day onion up to 100 t/ha.

·        The ICAR-DOGR-based package states that irrigated rabi onion typically yields 25-30 t/ha.

·        In ICAR-CAZRI KVK frontline demonstrations in Kachchh, Gujarat (rabi 2013-14 to 2015-16), improved practices gave 254.62-275.50 q/ha compared with 205-216 q/ha under farmers' practice, a 24-28% gain (Indian Journal of Arid Horticulture, 2024).

For a rough per-acre picture, 25-30 t/ha is about 100-120 quintals per acre.

What is the cost and profit of onion farming per acre?

Onion profit depends far more on the selling price than on any other factor, and onion prices swing sharply between years and months. So treat any profit number as an example, not a promise.

A field study in Haveri district, Karnataka (Mysore Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 2024, survey of 100 farmers) found:

The Haveri yield is low because much of the crop there is grown under kharif conditions. The Gujarat frontline demonstrations above reported benefit-cost ratios of 2.23-4.26 with improved practices versus 2.02-3.80 for farmers' practice.

How to calculate your own onion profit

1.  Add up all costs: seed, nursery, land preparation, FYM, fertilizers, plant protection, irrigation, labour, bags, transport and rent or interest.

2.  Multiply a realistic yield for your season and variety by a conservative price from your nearest mandi for your selling month, not last year's peak.

3.  Subtract cost from gross returns, then re-check with a price 30% lower. If you still cover cost, the plan is safer.

Storable rabi varieties, staggered selling, drip irrigation and early control of thrips and purple blotch are the most reliable ways to protect profit.

Conclusion

Onion farming in India rewards farmers who get the basics right: the right season and variety, a healthy nursery, correct spacing, balanced NPK with sulphur, timely irrigation that stops before harvest, early control of thrips and purple blotch, and careful curing and storage. Most of the yield gap between the national average of about 15-16 t/ha and the 40-50 t/ha potential of good rabi varieties comes from these practical steps, not from any single input.

Plan your season with your local KVK or agriculture officer, test your soil, and keep records of cost and yield every season so your decisions get better each year. When you need onion-specific inputs, from thrips insecticides and purple blotch fungicides to boron, humic acid and ready onion kits, you can find label-checked options at Katyayani Organics (katyayaniorganics.com) and get advice from our agri experts before you buy.