Abstract
Onion (Allium cepa L.) is an important vegetable crop of Sindh province of Pakistan. In general onion bulbs are stored in respect to their cultural and economical practice. The losses due to sprouting, physiological weight loss and rotting observed in storage are quite higher, and it compels to select an advanced technique. A trial was conducted at farmers field at Kunri, district Umerkot, Sindh on “Influence of different storage and curing methods on the quality of onion bulb” during the year 2016-17. The experiment was conducted on Phulkara variety of onion. In the study different storage methods viz. (1) storage on iron wire mesh cage (2) storage on ground in mud store, (3) storage on 2-inch-thick clayin mud store(4) storage in cemented store on ground and two curing methods viz. (1) storage with 2 inch foliage (2) storage without foliage were used. The parameters studied were physiological weight loss (%), bulb sprouting (%) and bulb rotting (%). The results showed that, the maximum physiological weight loss, sprouting and rotting (7.33%, 5.97% and 5.21%) respectively was recorded when onion bulbs were stored in cemented room, whereas lowest physiological weight loss, sprouting and rotting (4.86%, 0.77% and 1.18%) was recorded in wire mesh cage. Highest physiological weight loss, sprouting and rotting (8.25%, 5.97% and 6.02%) respectively was recorded in cemented room and not cured with foliage, the lowest physiological weight loss, sprouting and rotting (4.66%, 0.33%,0.94%) was observed in wire mesh cage and cured with foliage. The results also revealed that, physiological weight loss, sprouting and rotting started after 30 days and maximum loss (11.95%) was recorded in bulbs cured without foliage and stored in mud room+ 2” loose silt.
