Cropping system

Onion is a shallow-rooted crop suitable for various cropping patterns including intercropping and sequential cropping, depending upon location, nature of soil and climatic conditions. Onion crop may not efficiently utilize all the mineral nutrients applied to soil. The unused mineral nutrients may be leached down along with irrigation or rain water. These unused mineral nutrients present in subsoil can effectively be used by growing deep rooted crops in succeeding season. Based on the findings of field experiments, legume followed by onion sequence is recommended for higher yield, better utilization of nutrients and for improving soil health. Legume based cropping sequences like soybean in Kharif followed by onion in Rabi season or groundnut in summer season followed by onion in late Kharif season improves the soil fertility status and provides better monetary returns to the farmers.