Key Techniques and Methods for Soilless Cultivation of Chinese Chives

AbstractFor soilless cultivation of Chinese chives, you can choose to grow them in flower pots or wooden troughs with a depth of 18-20cm, then fill them with river sand with a particle size of 1-2mm, select the roots of Chinese chives grown in open fields for more than 2 years, cut off the old leaves and old roots, keep the shortened stem roots and insert them into the flower pot, then water thoroughly. Later, water and nutrient solution can be applied according to the growth situation, keeping the bed temperature at about 14°C and the air temperature at about 16°C. In winter, a small shed cover is needed for insulation.

I. Techniques for Soilless Cultivation of Chinese Chives

1. Use a flower pot or wooden trough with a depth of 18-20cm, fill it with river sand with a particle size of 1-2mm. The river sand needs to be washed clean with water to avoid carrying bacteria.

2. Select the roots of Chinese chives grown in open fields for more than 2 years, then cut off the old roots and old leaves, keep the shortened stem roots and insert them into the flower pot, with an average of 3-4 plants per cluster, and a plant spacing and row spacing of about 3.3cm.

3. After planting, water thoroughly. Later, water according to the growth situation. After new roots emerge, apply nutrient solution. Generally, water and nutrient solution can be applied once every 1 day. In spring, summer and autumn, apply once every 1-2 days. In winter, apply once every 3-5 days. Do not apply nutrient solution on rainy days, in the afternoon or at night. When leaves are yellow, leaves are black, or there are few leaves, more nutrient solution can be applied.

4. The nutrient solution formula for soilless cultivation of Chinese chives is 15kg of water, 22.5g of ammonium sulfate, and 22.5g of potassium dihydrogen phosphate, which can be used to water about 30 pots of Chinese chives.

5. The suitable bed temperature for sand culture of Chinese chives is 14°C, and the air temperature is 16°C. They can also grow normally when the bed temperature is 6°C and the air temperature is about 10°C. When entering winter, a small shed with bedding material should be used for insulation.

6. Sand-cultured Chinese chives have a natural dormancy period of about 1 month around Frost's Descent. You can choose to cut off the chive leaves after the Start of Winter to let them continue growing.

II. Growth Conditions of Chinese Chives

1. Temperature: Chinese chives prefer cool conditions, are cold-tolerant and heat-tolerant. The suitable temperature for seed germination is above 12°C, and the suitable growth temperature is 15-25°C.

2. Light: Chinese chives need moderate light for growth. They have strong shade tolerance, but if the light is too weak, the accumulation of photosynthetic products will be reduced, resulting in fewer and slender tillers, thus causing low yield and premature aging. If light and temperature are too strong, there will be more fiber and poor quality.

3. Moisture: The suitable air humidity for Chinese chives is 60-70%, and the suitable soil humidity is 80-90% of field capacity.

4. Nutrition: They have strong adaptability to soil quality. The suitable pH is 5.5-6.5. During the growth period of Chinese chives, the fertilizer requirement is large, and the fertilizer tolerance is strong.

III. Pest and Disease Control of Chinese Chives

1. Gray mold and sclerotinia rot: In the early stage of disease, choose on cloudy days to use 45% chlorothalonil smoke agent, or 10% procymidone smoke agent, with a dosage of 250 grams per mu, place 6-8 points respectively and ignite them, then close the shed for 3-4 hours. In the evening, you can also dust 10% thiophanate-methyl dust, or 50% chlorothalonil dust, or 6.5% metalaxyl and carbendazim dust, with a dosage of 1kg per mu. You can also use 1000-fold liquid of 50% iprodione wettable powder, or 50% carbendazim wettable powder, and spray for control.

2. Phytophthora blight: In the early stage of disease, you can use 600-800-fold liquid of 72.2% propamocarb aqueous solution, or 700-fold liquid of 72% cymoxanil wettable powder, or 1000-fold liquid of 60% fosetyl-aluminum wettable powder, or 800-fold liquid of 25% metalaxyl wettable powder. The method of use is the same as for gray mold.

3. Southern blight: In the early stage of disease, you can use 1000-fold liquid of 15% triadimefon, or 1200-fold liquid of 20% tolclofos-methyl for root irrigation.

4. Rust disease: In the early stage of disease, you can spray 1500-fold liquid of 15% triadimefon wettable powder, or 2000-fold liquid of 20% triadimefon emulsifiable concentrate, or 1500-fold liquid of 97% sodium dithionate wettable powder.

5. Bacterial soft rot: In the early stage of disease, you can use 500-fold liquid of 77% copper hydroxide, or 1000-fold liquid of potassium permanganate, or 2500-fold liquid of agricultural streptomycin, or 3000-fold liquid of chloramphenicol for root irrigation.

6. Viral disease: In the early stage of disease, you can use 1:40 soybean milk water, or 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate to spray on the leaves. The agents need to be used alternately, and can be sprayed once every about 7 days, with 2-3 consecutive sprays.

7. Chive maggot: You can choose during the peak emergence period of adults to use 2000-fold liquid of 48% chlorpyrifos emulsifiable concentrate, or 800-fold liquid of 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate, or 1500-2000-fold liquid of 2.5% cyhalothrin emulsifiable concentrate for foliar spraying.