Yield and dry weight of dehydrator onions after uprooting at maturity and delaying harvest

Abstract

In dry climates, onions usually have the roots undercut at maturity before harvest. In a 2-year study, dehydrator onions were uprooted at maturity to simulate undercutting, and harvest was delayed for several time intervals. Treatment effects on fresh and dry yield, the number of bulbs per plot, bulb fresh and dry weights, and percent dry weight of bulbs were measured. Plots were considered mature when 80% of the tops had fallen. Delaying harvest 15 days after maturity without uprooting did not reduce yield significantly. Yield and both bulb weight and percent dry weight tended to decline when harvest was delayed >15 days after maturity, especially if plants were uprooted. This suggests that undercutting of onions should not be performed until just prior to harvest and that harvest should not be delayed >15 days past maturity. Yield losses in delayed harvest treatments were attributed primarily to Fusarium basal rot.