Visual and Keeping Quality of Stored Bulb Onions as Affected by Harvest and Postharvest Treatments

Productivity of onion (Allium cepa L.) in Kenya is constrained by postharvest losses. Most postharvest strategies applicable to onions are applied singularly, and therefore, their combined effects have not been well studied. This study evaluated the combined effects of harvesting stage, curing perio...

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Main Authors: Irene N. Kiura, Bernard M. Gichimu, Felix Rotich
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hindawi Limited 2021-01-01
Series:International Journal of Agronomy
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/9969571
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spelling doaj-9dadd320f2164e3691a204c36f7d01ec2021-06-28T01:51:59ZengHindawi LimitedInternational Journal of Agronomy1687-81672021-01-01202110.1155/2021/9969571Visual and Keeping Quality of Stored Bulb Onions as Affected by Harvest and Postharvest TreatmentsIrene N. Kiura0Bernard M. Gichimu1Felix Rotich2Department of Agricultural Resource ManagementDepartment of Agricultural Resource ManagementDepartment of Agricultural Resource ManagementProductivity of onion (Allium cepa L.) in Kenya is constrained by postharvest losses. Most postharvest strategies applicable to onions are applied singularly, and therefore, their combined effects have not been well studied. This study evaluated the combined effects of harvesting stage, curing period, and time of topping on postharvest visual and keeping quality of red bulb onions. The study was carried out in Yatta Sub-County, Machakos County, Kenya. The experimental design was a split-split plot laid out in 3 × 3 × 2 factorial arrangement. The treatments consisted of harvesting stage (25%, 50%, and 75% top fall), curing period (none, 1 week, and 2 weeks) and time of topping (before and after curing). After three months of storage, the bulbs were assessed for visual and keeping quality using incidences of skin rots, skin colour, percent of marketable bulbs, residual weight of the bulbs after curing, and days to 50% sprouting. Bulbs that were harvested at 75% top fall and cured for one or two weeks before topping were found to have significantly better visual and keeping quality. Although seasonal variations were significant for some of the parameters assessed, a similar trend was observed in both seasons. The study recommends harvesting of onions at 75% top fall and curing for at least one week before topping for enhanced visual and keeping quality of harvested bulb onions.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/9969571
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Irene N. Kiura
Bernard M. Gichimu
Felix Rotich
spellingShingle Irene N. Kiura
Bernard M. Gichimu
Felix Rotich
Visual and Keeping Quality of Stored Bulb Onions as Affected by Harvest and Postharvest Treatments
International Journal of Agronomy
author_facet Irene N. Kiura
Bernard M. Gichimu
Felix Rotich
author_sort Irene N. Kiura
title Visual and Keeping Quality of Stored Bulb Onions as Affected by Harvest and Postharvest Treatments
title_short Visual and Keeping Quality of Stored Bulb Onions as Affected by Harvest and Postharvest Treatments
title_full Visual and Keeping Quality of Stored Bulb Onions as Affected by Harvest and Postharvest Treatments
title_fullStr Visual and Keeping Quality of Stored Bulb Onions as Affected by Harvest and Postharvest Treatments
title_full_unstemmed Visual and Keeping Quality of Stored Bulb Onions as Affected by Harvest and Postharvest Treatments
title_sort visual and keeping quality of stored bulb onions as affected by harvest and postharvest treatments
publisher Hindawi Limited
series International Journal of Agronomy
issn 1687-8167
publishDate 2021-01-01
description Productivity of onion (Allium cepa L.) in Kenya is constrained by postharvest losses. Most postharvest strategies applicable to onions are applied singularly, and therefore, their combined effects have not been well studied. This study evaluated the combined effects of harvesting stage, curing period, and time of topping on postharvest visual and keeping quality of red bulb onions. The study was carried out in Yatta Sub-County, Machakos County, Kenya. The experimental design was a split-split plot laid out in 3 × 3 × 2 factorial arrangement. The treatments consisted of harvesting stage (25%, 50%, and 75% top fall), curing period (none, 1 week, and 2 weeks) and time of topping (before and after curing). After three months of storage, the bulbs were assessed for visual and keeping quality using incidences of skin rots, skin colour, percent of marketable bulbs, residual weight of the bulbs after curing, and days to 50% sprouting. Bulbs that were harvested at 75% top fall and cured for one or two weeks before topping were found to have significantly better visual and keeping quality. Although seasonal variations were significant for some of the parameters assessed, a similar trend was observed in both seasons. The study recommends harvesting of onions at 75% top fall and curing for at least one week before topping for enhanced visual and keeping quality of harvested bulb onions.
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/9969571
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