05/05/2026
Water Timing Makes the Difference in Onion Yields 🧅
🔸️ ️Recent drought periods in various regions shows how irrigation cuts during the bulb formation stage can strongly impact onion yield when water becomes limited mid season.
🔸 ️Early bulbing is critical: short irrigation shortages at the start of bulb formation can significantly reduce bulb size and marketable yield.
🔸️ Stress later in the bulbing period has a much smaller impact, proving that timing of water stress matters more than how long it lasts. During this stage, onions are highly sensitive to moisture deficits, especially under hot conditions.
🔸️ In many African onion growing regions, this period coincides with high temperatures, low rainfall, and rising evapotranspiration, sharply increasing crop water demand. These conditions often create a “mid season dry window”, where crops depend almost entirely on irrigation or stored soil moisture.
🔸️ Key takeaway for growers: protect irrigation during the early bulbing phase; careful reductions later can help save water with minimal yield loss.
✅️ Bottom line: If water is limited, avoid cutting irrigation at the start of bulb formation — delay reductions until later if possible.
Hazera Africa onion varieties are adapted to short, medium and long growing seasons in hot and dry conditions.
Contact your local distributor 🤝🏾