Effect of organic farming practices on post harvest storage life and organoleptic quality of yellow onion (Allium cepa)

An experiment was conducted during 2002-04 at Coimbatore to study the post-harvest storage life and organoleptic quality of onion (Allium cepa L.) The results revealed that the total storage loss of stored yellow onion bulbs increased steadily as the period of storage was extended. The organic treatment combination of M1S2 (3% panchakavya + 50% farmyard manure + 50% poultry manure) registered the lowest total loss 42.65 and 45.78% in 'Phule Suvarna' during crop I and crop II respectively at 120 days after storage. The inorganic treatment consisting of 100% recommended dose of NPK fertilizers (M4S10) significantly varied from organic treatment and exhibited the highest total losses in both crops. A similar kind of response was observed in sprouting and rotting per cent also. With respect to organoleptic quality, all organically nourished treatments, particularly poultry manure combination were superior, imparted better taste, flavour and texture and had higher score than inorganic fertilizer treatments. Overall acceptability was not significantly different among various treatment combinations and these attribute was acceptable in all treatments.