Energy use pattern in rose onion (Allium cepa L.) cultivation

A study was conducted to analyse the energy use pattern for cultivation and on farm processing of rose onion (Allium cepa L.). The energy auditing data was collected by stratified random sampling method using a face- to-face interaction at Sadali (Hobli), Sidlaghatta, Chikkaballapur, Karnataka. In this region, the energy utilized for different package of practices followed for rose onion cultivation by conventional practice are land preparation (5-tyne cultivator, 9-tyne cultivator and rotovator), sowing (broadcasting), thinning (manual), manure & fertilizer application (manual), plant protection {weeding (manual and chemical spray), chemical spraying (battery operated sprayer)}, irrigation (micro-irrigation), harvesting (manual) and detopping (manual). The energy use pattern for the above-mentioned various package of practices were found to be 4,207.95±37.21, 664.66±17.68, 53.31±2.68, 22,522.92±385.07, 2,534.40±155.55, 14,980.51±229.49, 807.74±20.80 and 1,571.75±42.77 MJ ha-1, respectively. The input energy, output energy and energy ratio were calculated as 47,343.23±484.65, 38,131.12±462.48 MJ ha-1 and 0.81±0.01, respectively. The energy intensive operation identified was manure and fertilizer application (fertilizer 46.80%; men 0.77%) both indirect and direct energy sources, followed by irrigation (electricity 31.09%; men 0.55%), land preparation (diesel 8.33%) and pesticide application (pesticide 4.53%). It is concluded that the fertilizer, electricity and diesel utilised in rose onion cultivation needs to be optimally minimised through management practices.