How to Fertilize Chives: A Detailed Guide to the Correct Fertilization Method

Chives have a relatively high demand for fertility, and at different growth stages they need different fertilizers, so how should chives be fertilized?

1. Growth stages

Chives are a fertilizer-loving crop with strong tolerance to fertilizer, and their fertilizer requirements vary with age. Chives sown in the same year, especially at the germination stage and seedling stage, need little fertilizer. 2-4 year old chives have a large growth volume and need more fertilizer. Although the fertilizer requirement at the seedling stage is small and the root system's ability to absorb fertilizer is weak, if a large amount of fully decomposed organic fertilizer is not applied, it is difficult to meet the needs of their growth and development. Therefore, as the plants grow, it is necessary to promptly observe leaf color and growth vigor, and combine this with watering to carry out topdressing. After chives enter the harvest period, because they are harvested many times, topdressing must be carried out promptly to supplement fertilizer and meet the needs of normal chive growth.

2. Root nurturing

During the root nurturing period, in order to increase the accumulation of nutrients in the underground part, fertilizer also needs to be added. Chives' fertilizer requirements are mainly nitrogen fertilizer, combined with an appropriate amount of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer. Only when nitrogen fertilizer is sufficient can the leaves be thick and tender. Adding phosphorus and potassium fertilizer can promote cell division and expansion and accelerate the synthesis and transport of sugars, but applying too much potassium will make the fibers coarser and reduce quality. Applying a sufficient amount of phosphorus fertilizer can promote plant growth and the plant's absorption of nitrogen, improving product quality.

3. Fertilization

Adding organic fertilizer can improve the soil, increase soil permeability, promote root growth, and improve quality. Generally, for every 5000 kg of chives produced, 25-30 kg of nitrogen, 9-12 kg of phosphorus, and 31--39 kg of potassium need to be absorbed from the soil. This quantity can serve as a reference for the amount of fertilizer applied. In production, the amount of fertilizer applied often exceeds the actual requirement. Because chives have the characteristic of strong fertilizer tolerance, when fertilizer is applied excessively, basically no fertilizer damage is seen in chives. However, in chive production, fertilizer should not be applied blindly, so as to avoid wasting fertilizer and increasing production costs. In particular, when the amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied is too large, it can easily lead to reduced resistance, cause disease occurrence, and also cause lodging.

4. Fertilizer and water management

Chives have different abilities to absorb fertilizer at different growth stages. During the germination stage, the growth of the radicle and cotyledons is supplied with nutrients by the seed endosperm. At this time, the young roots are not yet fully developed and generally cannot yet absorb and utilize nutrients from the soil. At the seedling stage, because the growth volume is small and the root system's ability to absorb fertilizer is weak, the amount of fertilizer absorbed is also small. However, applying sufficient organic fertilizer and creating good soil conditions are beneficial to root development and the improvement of absorption capacity. After the vigorous growth stage, the growth rate accelerates, the growth volume increases, and fertilizer absorption increases, so fertilizer and water management should be strengthened.

Chives have a relatively large demand for fertilizer, so fertilization needs to be carried out according to the growth situation to ensure their good growth.