Sowing : Sowing is an important practice for onion cultivation because any alteration made on the seed rate, time of sowing and sowing method can reduce the yield significantly. So care must be taken to adopt appropriate sowing practices.

1. Seed rate: The seed quantity required to raise the seedlings for one hectare main field is about 5-7 kg, purchased from some reliable source. For direct sowing, the seed required in the main field is about 1.6-20 kg of certified seed.

2. Sowing time:Sowing or transplanting of seedlings can be carried out in a wide range of weather conditions. The most suitable time for sowing the seed in nursery and subsequent transplanting in the fields for maximum yield and better quality is different for different states.

In Maharashtra, seed for early kharif crop is sown in nursery in early June and transplanted by the end of July, whereas the usual kharif onion seed IS sown in late August in nurseries and transplanted in mid-October. Sowing :. times for various regions of India are given in table-I.

Sowing time for onion

Sl.No.	Region	Crop	Nursery sowing	Transplanting
1	Maharastra	Kharkif	Mid-August	Mid-October
2		Rabi	Early	Mid-December
3	Northe India	Kharif	June-July	July-sugust
4		Winter	Oct-Nove	Dec-Jan
5	Madhya Pradhesh	Winter	December	January
6	Hills	Summer	March-May	April-June
7	A.P	Early winter	Oct-Nov	Nov-Dec

3. Sowing methods: Onion crop is raised by various methods, depend- ing upon the circumtances of the farmers. These methods are (a) transplanting, (b) direct seed sowing and (c) planting bulbs in the field. However, the method of i nursery raising and subsequent transplanting is the best for high production and better quality.

a. Transplanting: When the seedlings are 6-8 weeks old and 15 cm high, they should be removed from the nursery beds and transplanted in the main 'field at a distance of 15-20 cm I 1 between lines and 7-10 cm between plants or seedlings. Irrigate the field soon after transplanting. The transplanting should be done either in early hours or late in the evening to avoid the drying of seedlings. Care must be I take~ to discriminate the seedling with damaged roots or diseases.

b. Direct seed sowing: Seed (16-20 kg) is sown by hand kera method or drill method to ensure seed depth 2-3 cm in lines at 30 cm apart. After 6-8 weeks, spacing between plants is adjust- ed to 10 cm by thinning and gap filling operations. This method requires more field labour for weeding at 10 days interval.

c. Planting bulbs in the field: Small and medium sized bulbs about 10-12 quintal are dibbled keeping 30 cm distance between lines and 15 cm between bulbs. Irrigation can be applied within one to two days after dibbling.