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Ink from plants 0809

Page history last edited by ecop 14 years, 10 months ago

 

Onion Dye

 

 

 

 By James Kim

 

 


Description and Rationale

 

 

The Philippines is a tropical rainforest country on the equator where sunlight hits the ground directly from above. A great variety of species of plants and life grow in here which made the 80 per cents of the entire land of the Philippines covered with plants. A tropical forest is a very suitable place for vegetables and plants. Especially onions, it is one of vegetables that grows very well in the tropical rainforest like the Philippines, Then, aside from being a food, how can onions affect the life of local people in the Philippines?

In fact, an onion includes colors in it, in its peels (brownish orange) and in its bulb (white). The colors in an onion were seemed to be beautiful and aesthetic personally and it was thought that it would be possible to get colors from onions and utilize it as a natural dyestuff.

What is the impact of the onion’s natural dyestuff on the local people in the Philippines? Is it even possible to make dyestuff out of onions? Would the dyestuff made from onions be good for dyeing fabric with the dyestuff? What would be the best way to make the dyestuff from onions and the best way for dyeing fabric materials? Might there be a distinct odor of onions that reeks on the fabrics that are dyed? What can be done to get rid of the smell from the fabric materials? If it is successful to dye fabric with the colors from onions, would this be favorable by people and especially the people living in squatter area in the barangay? what would be the best way(s) to communicate the findings to the people and barangays along these waterways?

The initial purpose of this project, will be to research more about onions and their colors for them to be usable and beneficial to the local people in a way through interview with people in poor areas in Brookside (with the help of a Tagalog-speaking interpreter). This research will help to find more knowledge about onions and its usefulness.

It is hoped that it could help to improve the quality of life of local people living in poor areas in the Brookside, by attempting to provide new way of dyeing fabric with economically practical amount of spending. 

 

 

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Biology

 

Common Names and Synonyms

 

 

The onion is also called Allium cepa.  It’s generally called as onion. The name of onion differs by its kind together with its scientific names; several of them are brown and white onions, yellow onions flower head of a yellow onions and Red onions. In the Philippines, the onion is called “sibuyas”

 

 

Classification

 

Kingdom:         Plantae

Phylum:         magnoliophyta

Class:            Liliopsida (monocotyledons)

Order:             Liliales (flowering plants)

Family:            Liliaceae (Lily family)

Genus:            Alium L.  (Oninon)

Species:           Cepa (garden

 

 

 

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Morphology and Physical Description

 

An onion has spherical shape that is made of several of centrally arranged layers, which all are similar in thickness.

In exterior, a normal onion’s diameter is about 6cm to 8cm and its shape is a regular sphere.

The peelings around the onion which protects the inside part of it, are brownish compared to the interior, rough and easy to peel.  The cover (the peelings) is very dried and contains several layers about two to five layers.  Between these layers, the more inner it is the lighter brown it looks.  The very exterior peelings are the darkest and is spotted and stained.

On the top of the onion, there is protruding stem that contains many pieces of the peelings dangling on it.  This is because it was once attached to stems when it was still under the ground and was detached from the stem.

 

The interior of the onions looks white and light green.  It’s much softer, wetter and smoother than its peelings.  Like the peelings, as the layers of interior are peeled, it gets lighter and lighter.

 

The onion has its genuine means of protection from its pests.  An onion is made of numerous layers which protects its inner part from being damaged. The odor and the moisture (chemical) the onion makes as the layers are peeled can hurt the eyes. It is thought that this is also one of the ways of protection from pests since its peelings are thin, transparent and weak.

 

Onion plants have slim grass-like leaves and stretch about 2 feet in height when flowers appear.  Leaves are narrow, long, and with parallel edges arising from the small underground bulb. Flowers, varying in color, depending on the species, from white to pink, appear at the top of a leafless stem and eventually become bulblets which drop to the ground and spread.

 

 

 

 

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Getting Food

 

Onions receive a regular supply of rain water - watering may be required in dry periods up until mid August. From then on, do not provide any water; it may delay the maturing process. Weeding will also be necessary, because onion foliage provides no protection against weeds.

Onion, growth varies greatly with respect to the day length needed for bulbing (formation of the onion bulb). Other factors such as amount of water which onion depends upon for its good growth and temperature may cooperate with day length to change the bulbing response.  In all kinds of onion, the growth of the bulb is accelerated when temperature increases. Temperature not only influences the rate of growth of bulb, but also influences the bulb shape. Plants exposed to 6°C or lower commonly have thick and elongated necks.

The onion root is fibrous, spreading just beneath the soil surface to a distance of 30 to 46 cm. There are few laterals, and total root growth is sparse and not especially aggressive. Therefore, in monoculture, onions tolerate crowding, particularly in loose, friable soils such as peat and muck. The growth of onion is severely limited by the competition from aggressive root systems (as from weed growth).

 

 

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Reproduction

 

Onions are sort of bulb plants which reproduce sexually. Bulbs are seed plants that produce flowers. Like other seed plants, the flowers must be pollinated in order to form seeds. Pollen containing the male gametes from the flower of one plant is deposited on the stamen, which contains the female gamete (the ovule), of the flower of another plant of the same species.

Bulbs also can reproduce asexually without the help of pollination, through a process called vegetative reproduction, a type of clonal reproduction. The bulb splits and forms new bulbs called bulblets. Another way that bulbs reproduce vegetatively is by forming bulbils---very tiny bulbs---on their stems or flower stalks. In both cases the new plants are genetically identical to the original plant. Vegetative reproduction is thought to be a method available for the plant to survive when climatic conditions are harsh and another plant of its species is not available for pollination.

 

 

 

 

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Environmental Factors

 

There are some organisms that could damage the onions or its growth. The larvae of the onion bulb fly bores into onion bulbs, destroying them. It is not common but can be a problem in some localities.

Onion fly looks like a normal fly.  It lays its eggs in spring on the neck of the onion, and the developing larvae will dig into the onion and destroy it. It digs around the onions regularly to expose the eggs. The time of greatest risk is when you thin the onions - the flies are attracted by the scent. Growing from onion sets removes the need for thinning and the onions are unlikely to be attacked.  The information about the symbiotic relationship of onion is hardly found, so it’s supposed that there is no actual symbiotic relationship in onion.

Onion Eelworms

Eelworms are microscopic worms in the soil which cause the onions to distort and swell in size. There is really no effective chemical cure, and it will be necessary to stop growing onions in the patch of ground for three to four years. 

 

 

 

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Origin and Distribution

 

There is really no information how exactly the onion got to the Philippines. But, it is supposed that onions were already existed in the Philippines or onions were brought from Spain, America or Japan when they had occupied the Philippines.  The onions could have been brought from other areas by travelers.

The onion dates back to 3500 B.C. It may have been growing wild in everywhere, but the onions are believed to be originated in Asia by some people. Since the onion did not spoil during the winter, it was grown by the people in history. In Egypt, Egyptians worshipped the onion, because they believed that "its spherical shape and concentric rings symbolized eternity." In fact, the onion was so important, Egyptian artists sculpted in gold. The onion was also popular in ancient Greece. Greek athletes would eat a large amount of onions to "'lighten the balance of blood.'" After the Romans conquered Greece, the onion became popular with the Roman culture just like it was for the Egyptians and Greeks. According to Magic Valley Growers, the Roman gladiators would rub onion juice on their bodies to make their muscles firmer. As time moved on, onions were began to be used as medicine during the Middle Ages to "alleviate headaches, snakebites, and even hair loss."

 

 

 

 

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Importance to People

 

The onion is one of the important seasonings which are used almost in all countries. It’s used in all household all the time because it can be used for making soups, sauces and in variety of recipes. There are three onion flavors; sweet, mild, and spicy. The flavor of the onion is a result of the growing conditions

Onions are known as very healthy that rich amount of phosphorus, calcium and carbohydrates are in an onion. Onion also contains Vitamin B1, B2, C and Calcium, which are good for fatigue, appetite, insomnia and high blood pressure.

Onions are also easy to grow with a long storage life, and its one of the best vegetables for the home gardener

Since the onion has many positive sides such as being easy to grow and an important seasoning that is necessary in the kitchen, onions are good sales products.

 

 

 

 

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Survivability and Endangered Status

 

The onions are not endangered as the production of onions is great. Its world production is over 64 millions of tones every year.

The numbers and statistics of onion production in the Philippines are not with the top ten onion producing countries. However, it’s still believed that onions are not endangered in the Philippines because the Philippines are the tropical rainforest country (huge amount of sunlight and water) which is an excellent place for onion to grow and because onions are easy to grow.

Another reason that is thought why onions are not endangered is that onion is made up of thick layers which protect the inner onions from the pests and its other predator.  

 

 

  

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Potential Solutions

 

 

Is the natural dyestuff from onions advantageous?  Dyeing is a very complicated and specialized process today. Almost all dyestuffs are made artificially and synthetically. Synthetic dyestuffs have several disadvantages. They have high percentages of dangers from allergies for the consumers and high environmental impact during production and waste disposal, whereas natural dyestuffs such from onions have lack of toxicity during production, reduction of work hazard and full biodegradation and reduction of the environmental impact.

Below are two possibilities with an analysis of the advantages and disadvantages for each.  Along with each possibility is a current status report of progress made to date on each of the possibilities.

 

 

 

Possibility 1 - Handkerchief dyed with Onion skin

 

ADVANTAGES

1.      The reddish color of the fabric material is very natural and pleasing to the eyes

2.      Income could be generated through making dyestuff and applying it to fabric materials, since onion peels are not used for anything. Onion peels can be used to make dyestuffs rather than to be thrown away as wastes.

3.      Onions are one of the most famous seasonings that it can be found almost in every household. Therefore, people can get onion peels very easily.

 

DISADVANTAGES

1.      The tips of the fingers and nails can be dyed if the hands are bare during soaking and squeezing process. Plastic gloves should be put on the hands to prevent the tips and nails of the fingers to be dyed.

2.      The dyeing is much efficient and faster when the dyestuff is warm enough.

3.      The dyestuff of the onion peels has its unique smell similar to the some Philippine food although the peels of the onion are not used as a cooking material. To remove this smell, the fabric should be under the sunlight during drying process.

4.      The peels that were boiled and taken out cannot be used any longer.

 

 

 

 

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Possibility 2 -  Handkerchief dyed with White Onion bulb

 

Making dyestuffs from white onion bulb is very similar to onion peels’.  However, only very exterior layer of onion is needed to make yellowish and greenish color. Like the peels, the outer layers of onions need to be washed by clean water, should be boiled about 30 minutes in the water filled up to when the peels are completely sank. After that, all the peels that were boiled should be taken out from the dyestuff that was made. Then, a fabric material such as handkerchief should be soaked in the dyestuff about 20 minutes. Finally, the fabric material has to be dried in the aerobic place for a day to be a complete dyed fabric material.

ADVANTAGES

 

1.      Two to three different colors can be made out from onions which is a great advantage for local people having intention of applying this to their fabric materials (handkerchief or clothes etc)

2.      The handkerchiefs that were dyed with the dyestuff made from white onions have elegant, yellowish and greenish color.

 

DISADVENTAGES

1.      Because of squeezing process, there are numerous folds in the handkerchiefs. To remove these folds in the handkerchiefs, the handkerchiefs should be ironed.

2.      Enough amount of outer layers of white bulbs of onions is needed to make the color distinct. Since the only part of the onions that is needed is the outer layer, the rest parts of the onions are not usable for producing dyestuffs.

 

 

 

 

 

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Bibliography

 

Cecchini Dr E. “Why Natural Dyes?” 8 December 2004.

 

http://www.agr.unipi.it/colorinaturali/natdyes.html

 

Jeje L. Tan. Personal interview 4 May 2009.

 

 

“List of garden pests.  “Onion bulb fly” Garden.ie 2008.

 

http://www.garden.ie/gardeningtroubles.aspx?id=643

 

“Onions” Gardeningzone.org 9 Jun 2007

 

www.gardeningzone.org/content/content.php/onions

 

“Onion” Wikipedia.org 4 May 2009.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onion

 

“origin” Onion

 

http://www.gate64.com/web/samples/onions/origin.html

 

 

“Wild Onion” Veterinary Medicine Library 1 September 2006.

 

http://www.library.uiuc.edu/vex/toxic/wonion/wonion0.htm

 

 

Ysabel Doran. “How Do Bulbs Reproduce?” Answerbag 29 October 2008.

 

http://www.answerbag.com/articles/How-Do-Bulbs-Reproduce/0827a1d0-77eb-6052-ff85-95b02ff58180

 

 

 

 

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To make a reddish dyestuff out of onion peels, first, onion peels after being peeled from onion’s bulb and cleaned with water, should be boiled about 30 minutes in the water filled up to when the peels are completely sank. After that, all the peels that were boiled should be taken out from the dyestuff that was made. Then, a fabric material such as handkerchief should be soaked in the dyestuff about 20 minutes. Finally, the fabric material has to be dried in the aerobic place for a day to be a complete dyed fabric material.

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