<span>Postharvest Management of Onions: Storage Strategies and Handling Techniques &ndash; A Review</span>

Hussein, Maha Ali

doi:10.58928/ku26.17310

	Postharvest Management of Onions: Storage Strategies and Handling Techniques – A Review
Kirkuk University Journal for Agricultural Sciences (KUJAS)
Volume 17, Issue 3, September 2026, Pages 81-87 PDF (447.22 K)
Document Type: Review Paper
DOI: 10.58928/ku26.17310
Author
Maha Ali Hussein^*
Baghdad University
Abstract
As a strategic crop, onion holds considerable economic significance in trade due to its high nutritional, processing, and therapeutic value. The primary goal of postharvest handling and storage is to preserve the physiological and physical quality of onion bulbs from harvest through to fresh consumption or use as seed stock. Subsequent operations—grading, sorting, and packaging—play a crucial role in determining the overall effectiveness of storage and marketing success. However, it is prone to postharvest losses that may reach 30–40% during storage, shipping, and marketing. These losses are primarily attributed to moisture loss, decay, and sprouting, which ultimately reduce onion quality beside Cultivars and hybrids differ in their performance under cold storage, particularly in terms of firmness, total soluble solids, outer skin thickness, and moisture loss . Storage behavior and success depend on temperature, relative humidity, gas composition, and the chosen storage system. To minimize these losses, the implementation of Smart Cold Storage Systems (SCSS) utilize advanced electronic technologies, including microcontrollers, sensors (e.g., DHT11 for temperature/humidity, MQ-6 for general gases, and LDR for light), and connectivity to enable real-time monitoring via mobile applications. This allows remote tracking of storage conditions and automated responses—such as activating fans or adjusting ventilation—ensuring precise control and improved sustainability by minimizing postharvest losses and improving product quality, SCSS enhances profitability for farmers and marketers, supports rural economic development, and promotes sustainable agriculture by reducing food waste and ensuring year-round availability of strategic crops , the selection of appropriate packaging materials, timely harvesting, and sustainable preharvest management to ensure extended storage life and improve the marketing characteristics of onions, whether for direct consumption or use as seeds in subsequent seasons.
Keywords
Smart storage; pungency; bulb sprouting; curing treatment; cold storage facilities

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