The aim of this field experiment was to investigate the efficacy of foliar-applied zinc (Zn) in the form of mineral (ZnSO 4 ) and complexed with lysine (Lys), methionine (Met), and threonine (Thr) as a strategy to improve bulb yield and nutritional quality of two onion cultivars: Allium cepa L. cvs. Behbahan and Perimavera. Different Zn sources and free amino acids (i.e., Lys, Met, and Thr) were applied once at the early rapid vegetative growth stage and once 45 d later at a concentration of 0.5 %. Among the treatments, foliar application of lysine-Zn produced the highest total yield. Foliar application of Zn-Lys complex also resulted in a significant reduction of bulb nitrate accumulation, while other Zn sources did not show any significant effects on this parameter. The maximum leaf area index, bulb growth rate and crop growth rate were obtained at the Zn-Lys treatment. Foliar application of Zn, regardless of the Zn source, significantly increased Zn concentration of fresh leaves (average 42%) as compared with control. Lys-Zn complex had the greatest effect in this regard (85% increase in comparison with control). Higher leaf symplastic Zn in the plants supplied with Zn-Lys in comparison with other Zn sources was accompanied with higher accumulation of Zn in bulbs indicating a larger proportion of Zn was mobilized in onion leaves and translocated to the bulbs. Results of onion bulbs storage showed that Zn-Lys and ZnSO 4 treatments (in Behbahan cultivar) and complexes of Zn-Lys and Zn-Thr (in Primavera cultivar) had significantly lower total losses as compared with control. The experimental results suggest, Zn-Lys complex may be as foliar spray to improve yield and quality of onion in Zn-deficient calcareous soils. Key words : Allium cepa , Fertilizer management, Micronutrients, Nitrate, Amino acid