Onion farming is an ideal way to generate income from returns in the field of agriculture due to a higher demand. However, only high quality produce is achievable over effective irrigation methods for onions.
Starting Onion farming: The Water Needs for Onion growth
Production of quality onions demands adequate water that makes irrigation methods compulsory in other areas.
Preparation for onion Irrigation farming with Aqua Hub Kenya
We guide farmers into successful onion cultivation with real information, training and irrigation methods.
- Find a suitable area to start your onions, must be a uniform or near flat area.
- As is common with traditional methods, start by checking whether your soil is suitable for onions.
- Plough the farm, 3 inch deep.
- Break the soil loose and prepare beds.
- Make beds for seedling propagation of any size as per the number of seedings you want to plant.
- Propagate seedlings and water properly till germination. It takes 4-6 weeks till ready for transplant.
Irrigation Methods for Onions
Irrigation methods for onions including drip irrigation, furrow, and sprinklers in Kenya are applicable with Aqua Hub’s support.
Drip irrigation for Onions
Drip irrigation system is proven highly effective for onion farming in Kenya. As water flows in a slow seepage manner directly to the root zone, it is accessible to the roots.
Onion Drip Irrigation Kit Setup
Application of drip irrigation on onion plants takes an online drip kit setup. The driplines can be 2 or 3 irrigation lines on each bed. Beds should be 1.5 – 2 m wide and about 100 m long with a spacing of 1 m apart.
Mainline drip Irrigation Setup
The mainline connection in drip irrigation methods for onions consists of pipes that supply water to driplines. Can remain connected on the surface or buried on trenches 2 ft below the ground.
Furrow Irrigation Method for Onions
Supplying water to the onion farm using trenches may not be very effective in directing water to all onion plants.
Overhead or Sprinkler Irrigation
Applying overhead irrigation for onions also delivers adequate water but not advisable as it can lead to fungal diseases. Water balance, and overirrigation is also unavoidable so it is not a great method at all.
Aqua Hub’s Irrigation Accessories for Onions
Aqua Hub’s onion drip irrigation kits are ideal accessories for meeting water needs at all stages of growth.
List of Aqua Hub’s Drip Irrigation Kits for Onions
- Mainline irrigation pipes – we have HDPE and PVC pipe options to lay on your mainline connection. Sizes from 20mm to 110 mm as per the farm size.
- Irrigation Control Head (Hydrant ) – Consist of a pipe, filter, pressure regulator and ball valves. Section to regulate water pressure, flow rate and filters debris.
- Connection fittings – HDPE or PVC fittings for secure pipe connections. Includes adapters, elbows, couplings, tee and end caps.
- Driplines – Pipes to lay on the onion plant lines, feeds water on a precise slow ratio to the root zones. 15 or 20 cm spacing driplines are applicable in irrigation of bulb onions.
- Dripline fittings – Start connectors, drip connectors, drip valves and end plugs are requirements for dripline connection.
- Laterals – Irrigation pipes to connect the underlying water supply connection to driplines on the beds.
- Tank Connectors – for connection of tank to the mainline supply pipe. Size depends on the tank and pipe sizes.
Cost efficiency: Which irrigation Method has a lower cost for Onion farming?
Evaluation of the cost of irrigating onions should consider the labor, cost of irrigation accessories and maintenance. Drip irrigation requires less cost to operate, low labor needs and minimum maintenance.
The system is a combination of accessories that makes it easier to clean, operate and repair. For instance, drip irrigation fittings enhance easier removal and replacement of leaking pipes or filters.
Onion Drip Irrigation Kits In Kenya
For our irrigation methods we often recommend making a site check for your farms before conducting assessment and installation.
Drip Irrigation kits comes at affordable prices, check at our prices;
Size / Lines Per Bed | 1 Line | 2 Lines | 3 Lines |
1 Acre | 75,000 | 130,000 | 160,000 |
1/2 Acre | 40,000 | 61,000 | 71,000 |
1/4 Acre | 28,000 | 40,000 | 50,000 |
1/8 Acre | 13,000 | 23,000 | 26,000 |
All orders and purchases for Onion Drip Irrigation Kits are processed faster at Aqua Hub Kenya.
Call 0790719020